Firaxis Studios, creators of Civilization 7, admit job cuts as they streamline their development approach for flexibility, teamwork, and innovation, a move that seems more disheartening than simply emphasizing 'efficiency'

Firaxis Games, the developer behind the popular Civilization series, has faced a series of layoffs during the development of Civilization 7. According to internal sources, dozens of employees have been let go, including writers, testers, and character artists. This news was confirmed by Emma Kidwell, a writer on Civilization 7, who reported the layoffs on Bluesky.

The layoffs are reportedly due to restructuring and optimization of the development process at Firaxis Games. Despite this, 2K Games, the publisher of Firaxis, has confirmed the staff reduction at the studio.

The rep from 2K and Firaxis stated they are committed to realizing the promise of Civilization 7. Title updates and patches are being worked on to align with the needs of players. However, the game has been underperforming, with mixed reviews on Steam and concurrent player counts lagging behind those of Civilization 6 and Civilization 5.

It's worth noting that Civilization 7's predecessor, Marvel's Midnight Suns, was excellent but a flop, receiving only one season of post-launch content. A planned release on the Nintendo Switch for Marvel's Midnight Suns was cancelled, presumably due to the underperformance of the game.

The Civilization franchise is seen as a long-term opportunity by 2K and Firaxis. Andy Chalk, a writer for PC Gamer, has been covering all aspects of the gaming industry since 2007, including new game announcements, patch notes, legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Andy began writing for PC Gamer in 2014.

In a positive note, the team at PC Gamer continues to cover the biggest gaming news, reviews, and hardware deals. They remain optimistic about the future of the Civilization series and are eagerly awaiting the release of XCOM 3, although there is still no sign of the game.

XCOM 2, developed by Firaxis Games, is approaching 10 years of age. The delay in the release of XCOM 3 could be due to the restructuring and optimization of the development process at Firaxis Games, as they aim to deliver a high-quality game to their dedicated fanbase.

As the situation unfolds, the gaming community will continue to follow the developments at Firaxis Games and the future of the Civilization series.

Firaxis Studios, creators of Civilization 7, admit job cuts as they streamline their development approach for flexibility, teamwork, and innovation, a move that seems more disheartening than simply emphasizing 'efficiency'