Civ 6 Still Has More Players than Civ 7

The latest installment in the Civilization series, Civilization 7, has recently been released. Despite its new features, it hasn’t consistently attracted more daily players on Steam than its predecessors, Civilization 5 and Civilization 6.

According to SteamDB, Civilization 5 reached a peak of 91,363 concurrent players over a decade ago, while Civilization 6 peaked at 162,657 players. In contrast, Civilization 7 has managed a peak of 84,558 players since its launch last week. This indicates that many players continue to engage with the older versions.

On Steam’s current top concurrent players chart, Civilization 7 holds the 27th spot, with Civilization 6 close behind at 33rd. However, earlier this week, both Civilization 5 and 6 ranked higher than the new release. This suggests that the latest game hasn’t yet established a dominant presence among its fanbase.

A similar situation occurred with the launch of Payday 3. Players who had invested years in Payday 2 were hesitant to transition to a new game that felt less comprehensive. This reluctance was compounded by significant issues during Payday 3’s launch.

While Civilization 7 hasn’t faced challenges as severe, its reception has been mixed. PC Gamer awarded it a 76% rating, indicating a good game but not matching the 93% scores given to both Civilization 5 and 6. Reviewer Robert Zak described Civilization 7 as “sleeker and speedier, colder and less complex,” suggesting a departure from the depth of its predecessor.

The game’s streamlined nature is partly due to the absence of expansions and downloadable content that enriched previous titles. Simplified systems, such as diplomacy, and a new three-age structure that omits the modern era, contribute to this perception. These changes have led to criticism, particularly regarding the user interface, resulting in a “Mixed” average rating on Steam. This feedback may deter potential players from embracing the new installment.

In response to player concerns, developer Firaxis has released initial updates and promises more substantial improvements. They stated, “We’re actively listening to all the feedback, and work is already underway on free updates to the game including a UI rework, the addition of community-requested features, and other quality-of-life updates.” This commitment aims to address current issues and enhance the overall gaming experience.

Historically, Firaxis has supported its games over extended periods, suggesting that Civilization 7 may evolve and gain a more substantial following. Future updates and potential expansions could enrich the game’s content, making it more appealing to both new and existing players. As the game develops, it may attract a larger audience and achieve the success of its predecessors.