Civilization 7's launch has garnered mixed Steam reviews, but Take-Two's CEO remains optimistic. While early access players, many of whom are hardcore Civ fans, have voiced concerns about the UI, limited map variety, and missing features, the CEO, Strauss Zelnick, believes these initial criticisms will fade as players invest more time in the game.
The game's current Metacritic score of 81 and numerous reviews exceeding 90 demonstrate positive reception from a significant portion of the press. Zelnick acknowledges negative reviews, including a notable low score from Eurogamer, but attributes the negative feedback to the significant changes implemented by Firaxis. He points to the game's innovative three-age campaign structure with simultaneous Age Transitions, a feature unprecedented in previous Civilization titles, as a potential source of initial apprehension. This system involves selecting a new civilization, choosing retained Legacies, and witnessing world evolution at each transition.
Firaxis is actively addressing player feedback, promising UI improvements, the addition of team-based multiplayer, and increased map diversity. Zelnick emphasizes that the company is aware of these issues and committed to resolving them. However, the Steam user review rating remains a key concern, impacting both public perception and the game's visibility on the platform. Firaxis faces the challenge of shifting negative sentiment and ensuring Civilization 7's long-term success on Steam.
