Firaxis Games, developer of Civilization VII, has initiated workforce reductions today despite Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick's claims that the game's performance aligns with projections.
Studio Restructuring Affects Multiple Departments
Several Firaxis employees across production, narrative, and art teams have announced their departures on social media. Publisher 2K confirmed the organizational changes to Game Developer, stating the studio is restructuring to enhance its development process with emphasis on "adaptability, collaboration, and creativity." The company declined to specify how many positions were affected.
Civilization VII's Rocky Launch Path
The latest installment in the storied strategy franchise debuted earlier this year to mixed reviews on Steam, with players criticizing elements including:
- Challenging user interface
- Limited map diversity
- Absence of anticipated features
Firaxis has since rolled out multiple updates addressing these concerns.
Take-Two Leadership Maintains Confidence
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged Civilization VII's initially sluggish performance while defending the title's long-term potential:
"Civilization has historically been a slow-building franchise that gains momentum over time. While we've required adjustments during this launch period - with more refinements planned - we're observing improving player engagement and remain confident in the title's projected lifetime value."
"We believe Civilization VII will ultimately establish itself as a worthy successor within this legendary franchise," Zelnick concluded.
