Take-Two Boss Says 'Legacy' Civilization Audience Will Eventually Come Around on Civilization 7 Amid 'Mixed' Steam User Reviews

Civilization VII has arrived, and while its Steam user reviews currently sit at "Mixed," Take-Two's CEO remains confident that dedicated fans will ultimately embrace the game. Early access, typically accessed by hardcore Civilization players, has revealed some initial concerns. Steam reviews highlight issues such as the user interface, a perceived lack of map diversity, and a feeling that several expected features are missing at launch.

Firaxis has acknowledged this feedback and promised improvements. These include UI enhancements, the addition of team-based cooperative multiplayer, and a broader range of map types, among other planned additions.

In an interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the mixed reception, referencing Eurogamer's 2/5 review. However, he expressed confidence that the "legacy Civ audience" will grow to appreciate the game with more playtime. Zelnick cited a Metacritic score of 81 and over 20 reviews exceeding 90, while acknowledging negative outliers. He attributed initial negative reactions to the significant changes implemented by Firaxis, suggesting that players will come to appreciate the innovations with time.

He specifically mentioned the UI as an area needing attention. Zelnick emphasized that while the early access release isn't perfect, the overall performance is encouraging, and the identified issues are addressable.

Zelnick's comments about initial apprehension among hardcore fans directly relate to Firaxis' substantial changes to the core gameplay. Civilization VII features a campaign spanning three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Age transitions trigger simultaneous changes for all players and AI, involving civilization selection, legacy retention, and world evolution—a novel system unseen in previous Civilization titles.

While Zelnick is optimistic about long-term acceptance, Firaxis faces the immediate challenge of improving player sentiment, particularly on Steam. The Steam user review rating is vital for the game's success, impacting both public perception and platform visibility.