In a shocking turn of events, Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization VII, has announced layoffs, raising eyebrows amid claims from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick that the game's sales trajectory aligns with expectations.

Released earlier this year, Civilization VII has had a rocky reception on Steam, with players voicing concerns over its user interface, map diversity, and missing anticipated features. In response, Firaxis has been actively rolling out updates to address these issues and enhance player experience.

Interestingly, Zelnick acknowledged that while Civilization VII had a "slow start," he believes the game's overall potential remains intact. He stated, "Civ has always been a slow burn. I’m not a firm believer in the long tail theory of the entertainment industry, yet Civ exemplifies it. Our internal forecasts for the game's lifetime value remain in line with our original expectations. Despite initial hurdles, we are seeing better consumer uptake and anticipate further improvements."

This juxtaposition of layoffs and optimistic sales projections presents a complex picture of the ongoing challenges within the gaming industry. As Firaxis pushes forward with more updates and improvements, only time will tell if Civilization VII can carve out its legacy among the franchise's celebrated titles.