Take-Two Chief Says Civilization 7’s “Slow Start” Won’t Derail Long-Term Success

Civilization 7 may have stumbled out of the gate, but publisher Take-Two Interactive insists it’s still playing the long game. CEO Strauss Zelnick says the 4X strategy title’s rocky reception hasn’t shaken confidence in its lifetime value projections, despite a wave of criticism from fans and lukewarm reviews.

A Launch Clouded by Criticism

The February release was met with mixed feelings from the Civilization community. While Eurogamer called it “competent” but lacking in personality, many players took to Steam and Reddit to air frustrations.

The complaints ranged from stripped-down features to clunky menus and controversial gameplay tweaks, particularly the new Age Transitions system. On Steam, those issues have left the game stuck with a “mixed” rating months after launch.

Console players were part of the release too, but the most vocal backlash came from the PC base that has long been the series’ core audience.

Zelnick’s “Slow Burn” Philosophy

In an interview with IGN, Zelnick admitted the title got off to a “slow start” but argued Civilization is different from most games in how it sells.

He pointed out that each entry tends to gain traction gradually rather than explode on day one. “It’s always been a title that had… a long tail,” Zelnick said, noting Civ is one of the rare exceptions to his skepticism about that theory in entertainment.

For Take-Two, the key message was that lifetime projections remain unchanged, even if the early months were bumpy.

Firaxis Responds with Roadmap Updates

Developer Firaxis has been rolling out patches aimed at tackling the most pressing concerns. The latest update, version 1.2.3, made UI tweaks and adjusted quality-of-life features.

It also began reshaping the contentious Age Transitions system, attempting to smooth the jump between historical eras and improve continuity.

• Firaxis says it’s “in the middle of some deeper work” on core systems like replayability, Ages, and long-term civilization identity.

These bigger fixes won’t land quickly, with the studio admitting the more significant revisions “are going to take time.”

Early Player Sentiment Still Shaky

Even with updates, reviews from dedicated fans remain cautious. Many say they’re holding off on a purchase until the deeper changes are in place.

Some longtime Civ veterans compare the situation to the launch of Civilization VI, which grew into a far more popular title after expansions and years of updates.

That historical precedent may be exactly what Zelnick is banking on.

Sales Outlook and Long-Term Position

While exact sales numbers haven’t been disclosed, Zelnick’s confidence suggests the game is meeting revenue milestones internally.

Here’s how recent mainline Civilization titles have performed in their first year, based on historical data and Take-Two commentary:

If Firaxis’ ongoing work lands well, Civilization 7 could still follow a similar upward curve—just on a delayed timeline.

What’s Next for the Franchise

For now, Firaxis is focusing on stabilizing and deepening Civ 7 rather than rushing out expansions.

That means the game’s defining updates could still be months, even years, away. Zelnick’s remarks make clear Take-Two is willing to wait, betting that Civ’s loyal audience will eventually come around.

Whether that patience pays off might not be clear until well into 2025.