Why Civilization 7’s Low Player Count isn’t Reason to Worry

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In the series of games known as the “4X strategy franchise,” Civilization 7 has sparked a lot of debate due to its innovative yet divisive changes. For instance, it overhauled the traditional Age system and allowed players to team up a leader with any Civilization. However, upon its release, the game faced criticism for technical glitches and design flaws, with both fans and critics expressing concerns about its user interface, among other aspects.

The continuous debate surrounding Civilization 7 has resulted in its active player base on Steam gradually decreasing over the past few months. As per SteamDB, the game peaked with 84,558 simultaneous players back in February. Currently, it stands at a record low of only 6,818 concurrent players on Steam. Although the console side is uncertain, given that PC has traditionally been Civilization’s primary platform, these numbers don’t paint a promising picture. However, there remains some optimism for Civilization 7.

This is Just The Beginning for Civilization 7

Another Civilization 7 Port is on the Way

On June 5th, the sequel to the popular game series, Civilization 7, is set to debut on Nintendo Switch 2. The lineup for the launch of Switch 2 is anticipated to be more robust compared to its predecessor, boasting a new version of Mario Kart, enhanced versions of many games from Switch 1, and numerous high-profile releases by third parties. Given that early buyers of Nintendo’s upcoming hybrid console might want to collect as many games as possible on the first day, there is a good chance that Civilization 7 could experience renewed popularity, even though it will be available on an entirely new platform.

It’s worth noting that Civilization 7 should operate smoothly on the Nintendo Switch 2. There are existing performance concerns with Civ 7 on consoles, and these problems would undoubtedly harm the game’s reception if they persist in the Switch 2 version as well.

Civilization 7 Has Plenty in the Pipeline

Initially, developer Firaxis launched an add-on for Civilization 7, but the reception was not ideal. Many players found the $30 DLC and its release confusing since they felt the main game was incomplete. To steer clear of more debate, Firaxis has chosen to postpone their “Right to Rule” expansion temporarily, instead focusing on addressing major concerns with Civilization 7 itself.

If Firaxis addresses and rectifies the main problems, and as additional content becomes available, there might be a surge in active players for what is currently known as Civilization 7. However, it’s important to note that certain debatable aspects of the game can’t be eliminated because they form its core, but improving the UI and other features could entice some players to return.

For those who haven’t yet decided, the $70 price of Civilization 7 could seem a tad expensive. However, once it goes on sale, it may attract more gamers.

As a devoted fan of the Civilization franchise, I’ve noticed a pattern that often repeats. A fresh installment arrives, and while it may have some initial flaws, Firaxis usually addresses these issues, smoothing out the gameplay experience over time. This process is sometimes accompanied by a major expansion pack, often around a year after the launch. So, although Civilization 7 might not meet all our expectations now, there’s reason to believe it could garner more positive reception in the future.

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2025-05-31 02:34