Take-Two Confident 'Legacy' Civilization Fans Will Embrace Civ 7

Civilization 7's launch has garnered mixed Steam reviews, but Take-Two's CEO remains optimistic. While early access players, often considered hardcore fans, have voiced concerns about the user interface (UI), limited map variety, and missing features, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick believes the game's reception will improve with time.

The game's current Steam user reviews highlight UI issues, a lack of map diversity, and the absence of expected features. Firaxis has acknowledged this feedback and promised updates addressing the UI, adding multiplayer team functionality for cooperative play, and expanding map variety.

Despite some negative reviews, including a low score from Eurogamer, Zelnick points to a Metacritic score of 81 and numerous reviews exceeding 90, indicating a generally positive critical reception. He suggests that the initial apprehension among long-time Civilization players stems from the significant changes introduced in Civilization 7.

Zelnick highlights the game's innovative Age Transition system, a unique feature where players transition through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern ages, simultaneously changing civilizations, selecting retained Legacies, and evolving the game world. This represents a departure from previous Civilization titles.

While acknowledging the need for improvements, particularly concerning the Steam user reviews which are vital for the game's visibility and success on the platform, Zelnick expresses confidence that the core fanbase will ultimately appreciate Civilization 7's innovations. Firaxis is actively working to address the identified issues and improve player sentiment.