Renowned game developer Firaxis, responsible for the popular Civilization VII, initiated layoffs for an undisclosed number of its employees. This unexpected move occurred despite Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick’s affirmation of the game’s sales performance aligning with the company’s expectations.
Recent posts on social media by Firaxis staff members revealed that they had been given their marching orders. The affected employees spanned several departments, including production, narrative, and art. Confirming the situation was the game’s publisher, 2K. It cited the layoffs as part of the studio’s ongoing restructure and refinement of its development procedure to boost ‘adaptability, collaboration, and creativity.’ However, 2K did not disclose the exact impact of the layoffs.
Civilization VII was launched earlier this year, and it has since experienced mixed reviews on Steam, particularly from unsatisfied gamers who complained about the user interface, insufficient map diversity, and the absence of certain anticipated features. In response to these critiques, Firaxis has issued multiple updates designed to enhance the game.
Take-Two’s CEO Zelnick conceded that Civilization VII may have gotten off to a ‘slow start.’ However, he emphasized that the company’s internal projections for the ‘lifetime value’ of the game are still in line with the initial outlook. He expressed that the Civilization series has always taken some time to fully catch its stride, often defying traditional entertainment trends.
Zelnick remains positive, asserting continued improvements in consumer uptake. Accordingly, he anticipates that Civilization VII will find its prestigious spot within the Civilization series and strongly believes in its eventual success.
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