The launch of *Civilization 7* on Steam has been rocky, to say the least. Since its debut in February, the strategy game has struggled to attract players on Valve's platform, with Steam user reviews reflecting a 'mixed' sentiment. Despite numerous patches from developer Firaxis aimed at improving the game, *Civilization 7* currently boasts fewer players than its predecessors, *Civilization 6* and even the 15-year-old *Civilization 5*.

While the game's performance on Steam is a significant concern, it's important to note that *Civilization 7* also launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. A version optimized for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, featuring new Joy-Con mouse controls, is on the horizon. However, the heart of the *Civilization* franchise lies in the PC market, where *Civilization 7* is clearly facing challenges.

Despite these struggles, Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, expressed enthusiasm for *Civilization 7* during an interview with IGN ahead of the company's latest financial results. "I'm thrilled with Civ 7 so far," Zelnick stated. He acknowledged initial issues but praised Firaxis for their efforts in addressing them, expressing optimism about the game's future. Zelnick highlighted the franchise's history of a long sales cycle and his belief that *Civilization 7* would follow this trend.

Zelnick noted that the *Civilization* series often faces initial resistance due to changes, which is a testament to the fans' deep connection to the franchise. "The history of all the Civilization releases is that initially some of the changes that we make cause consternation among our consumers because they love the Civilization franchise so much," he explained. He remains confident that over time, players will recognize the improvements in *Civilization 7*.

At launch, players voiced concerns about the user interface, a lack of map variety, and the absence of expected features. These sentiments likely relate to the significant changes Firaxis introduced, such as the new Age Transition system. In *Civilization 7*, players navigate through three distinct Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. During an Age Transition, players choose a new civilization, select Legacies to carry forward, and witness the evolution of the game world—a feature unprecedented in previous *Civilization* games. Zelnick believes that fans will grow to appreciate this innovative system.

Although Take-Two has not disclosed specific sales figures for *Civilization 7*, the company is actively working to expand the game's audience. This includes the recent release of *Civilization 7 VR* for Meta Quest 3 and 3S, and the upcoming port for the Nintendo Switch 2.