Layoffs :(

[DocRock]

I think it's a shame that so many people are unemployed now because of some money-hungry suit decisions to set up a game for all crappy devices (UI for consoles, tablets, mobile) instead of following the working formula of using the PC as a lead platform. Combine that with an outright greedy DLC policy and you get such a result. I'm not saying that the Devs were flawless, there are many, many issues with the game itself but those could have been fixed like with all other Civ versions. Pretty sure the IP is heavily damaged after this and we will get some mobile casual titles next, but no substancial DLC nor a real Civ VIII. I went back to Civ V a few weeks ago out of boredom and the game is still so spectacular good, it's such a shame.

 

[queenpea]

Just wanted to add my own message here:

Firaxis has always been the source of some of my favorite titles over the years, and I can’t imagine the gaming world without it. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, I can’t imagine growing up without Civ—the hours I spent playing the series starting with Civ III have surely been formative.

For everyone who has lost their job, I am sure that your considerable talents will find you a new position elsewhere very quickly, and I wish you all the best in your job search!

 

[Core Imposter]

I think it's a shame that so many people are unemployed now because of some money-hungry suit decisions to set up a game for all crappy devices (UI for consoles, tablets, mobile) instead of following the working formula of using the PC as a lead platform. Combine that with an outright greedy DLC policy and you get such a result. I'm not saying that the Devs were flawless, there are many, many issues with the game itself but those could have been fixed like with all other Civ versions. Pretty sure the IP is heavily damaged after this and we will get some mobile casual titles next, but no substancial DLC nor a real Civ VIII. I went back to Civ V a few weeks ago out of boredom and the game is still so spectacular good, it's such a shame.

I don't know why we won't get a Civ8. It is obvious that Civ1-4 was one type of game and 5-7 another. And the latter have run their gamut. You can only sell so much soft soap.

The decks are cleared for real Civ, strategic, global, massive, bloody and complex. With abundant micro, min max, and no sand in the box. The goal should be that no one beats deity for six months out of the box and I wouldn't mind if it took two years. Glory.

 

[Canadian Bluebeer]

How about an updated Call To Power?

And yeah, the suits that thought this was a good idea are the ones who should be getting the heave-ho.

 

[Wrenched]

I am hoping for the best for the employees impacted. Strikes me as a really unfair situation.

Talented folks suffering for decisions made above them and the poisonous greed of the executive class and shareholders for a publisher that reported "6 percent growth in revenue and 5 percent growth in net bookings for fiscal year 2025."

 

[Xur]

I dont believe any shareholders or executives at 2K had any say in how the game is designed. Maybe marketing pushed the pricing a bit too hard based on civ6 data, but that has nothing to do with gameplay or game design. I still don't blame the janitor for the design either. This is not a case of bad execution or pricing - the problem is game design. I know some people dont believe the lead designer has any say in the design, but I surprisingly disagree. Blame 2K for pricing etc, but not the design.

I dont know about you, but I got stocks to make money, not to be nice. So blaming shareholders is super strange to me.

 

[Canadian Bluebeer]

I dont believe any shareholders or executives at 2K had any say in how the game is designed. Maybe marketing pushed the pricing a bit too hard based on civ6 data, but that has nothing to do with gameplay or game design. I still don't blame the janitor for the design either. This is not a case of bad execution or pricing - the problem is game design. I know some people dont believe the lead designer has any say in the design, but I surprisingly disagree. Blame 2K for pricing etc, but not the design.

I dont know about you, but I got stocks to make money, not to be nice. So blaming shareholders is super strange to me.

There's quick money, and long term money.
aka pennywise and pound foolish.

 

[Wrenched]

I dont believe any shareholders or executives at 2K had any say in how the game is designed. Maybe marketing pushed the pricing a bit too hard based on civ6 data, but that has nothing to do with gameplay or game design. I still don't blame the janitor for the design either. This is not a case of bad execution or pricing - the problem is game design. I know some people dont believe the lead designer has any say in the design, but I surprisingly disagree. Blame 2K for pricing etc, but not the design.

I dont know about you, but I got stocks to make money, not to be nice. So blaming shareholders is super strange to me.

There are two overlapping issues.

• The game design decisions made by the creative leads at Firaxis.
• The publisher oversight that likely included pricing decisions, adding Denuvo, increasing monetization opportunity, and rushed release.

To me it looks like the decision makers at both levels remained unscathed while the talent executing those directives were hit.

In a more compassionate world a publisher with a diverse portfolio of projects and income streams should be able to bear the burden of an underperforming title for a while longer to give that team a chance to course correct, maintain institutional knowledge, and alleviate team morale. But I guess preserving the sanctity of company growth projections is paramount.

 

[Gorbles]

I dont believe any shareholders or executives at 2K had any say in how the game is designed. Maybe marketing pushed the pricing a bit too hard based on civ6 data, but that has nothing to do with gameplay or game design. I still don't blame the janitor for the design either. This is not a case of bad execution or pricing - the problem is game design. I know some people dont believe the lead designer has any say in the design, but I surprisingly disagree. Blame 2K for pricing etc, but not the design.

I dont know about you, but I got stocks to make money, not to be nice. So blaming shareholders is super strange to me.

Because the thread is about layoffs, not for complaining about the game's design. We have a bunch of topics where that's fair game.

But "to make money" is probably a part of the problem, yeah

 

[Askia Muhammad]

There are two overlapping issues.

• The game design decisions made by the creative leads at Firaxis.
• The publisher oversight that likely included pricing decisions, adding Denuvo, increasing monetization opportunity, and rushed release.

To me it looks like the decision makers at both levels remained unscathed while the talent executing those directives were hit.

In a more compassionate world a publisher with a diverse portfolio of projects and income streams should be able to bear the burden of an underperforming title for a while longer to give that team a chance to course correct, maintain institutional knowledge, and alleviate team morale. But I guess preserving the sanctity of company growth projections is paramount.

I’m just going to be honest - the release being rushed is such a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. Even with another six months in the oven this game would have been lackluster due to core design flaws.

I do think pricing, denuvo, DLC policy are valid points of criticism aimed at the publisher though. I just really can’t fathom the design decisions made for this entry.

Just imagine it, you’re handed the golden goose, you just have to make it comfortable and take care of it and it will lay golden eggs. Instead you begin genetic modifications and end up with rotten eggs… that is to say - they really didn’t need to do much - adhere to the sacred Sid rule of thirds, update the graphics, and introduce 1/3rd new but instead they threw the baby out the bath water and redesigned the series from the ground up… now they are reaping the seeds they sew and unfortunately the hard working developers are being laid off instead of the lead design team that steered the ship right into the iceberg.

 

[SupremacyKing2]

Just imagine it, you’re handed the golden goose, you just have to make it comfortable and take care of it and it will lay golden eggs. Instead you begin genetic modifications and end up with rotten eggs… that is to say - they really didn’t need to do much - adhere to the sacred Sid rule of thirds, update the graphics, and introduce 1/3rd new but instead they threw the baby out the bath water and redesigned the series from the ground up… now they are reaping the seeds they sew and unfortunately the hard working developers are being laid off instead of the lead design team that steered the ship right into the iceberg.

From the point of view of we the fanbase, I get the sentiment that the devs should have played it safe. But from their perspective, I can see why they wanted to be more bold. Who wants to basically do the same game design over and over with just minor tweaks. It is natural to want to try something big from time to time. And imagine being the dev and having this idea for the civ franchise you love, that you think is really cool, and you have the power to implement it. You'd want to give it a try too. Plus, hindsight is always 20/20. The devs did not know in advance that civ-switching and age transitions would be so poorly received. They might have genuinely thought that the ideas would work.

 

[Disgustipated]

by integrating AI

AI is garbage, nothing I've seen so far has led me away from this opinion.

 

[King Flevance]

This thread has many comments in it crediting the artwork in this game and the game really is beautiful. The map, the buildings, the units, leaders, animations, narrative text, etc. These people did great work. I want to make another post crediting this game's art just to throw some love towards these people trying to find work elsewhere. You will be missed by the fanbase even if we don't know exactly what asset you added to the game. You all made the game beautiful, and it should be a credit to your resumes.

Ignore all of the fanbase rabidly throwing shade at the massive corporate entities - you guys did fantastic, if you are reading this.

 

[Askia Muhammad]

From the point of view of we the fanbase, I get the sentiment that the devs should have played it safe. But from their perspective, I can see why they wanted to be more bold. Who wants to basically do the same game design over and over with just minor tweaks. It is natural to want to try something big from time to time. And imagine being the dev and having this idea for the civ franchise you love, that you think is really cool, and you have the power to implement it. You'd want to give it a try too. Plus, hindsight is always 20/20. The devs did not know in advance that civ-switching and age transitions would be so poorly received. They might have genuinely thought that the ideas would work.

I’m not suggesting they “played it safe” in a sense, though I do know the idiom I used does typically carry that connotation.

I’m simply saying they should have stuck to Sid’s rule of thirds - something they’ve done since Civ 1. There is room for innovation, and it is welcome, but you can’t essentially burn the house down and rebuild it from scratch and expect the people who lived there to feel at home. Personally, I find there to be so little carry over from not only Civ 6 but from the earlier entries in the series that it doesn’t feel it’s a mainline civilization entry to me.

I think navigable rivers, towns/cities, independent peoples changes and commanders are plenty of change for a single entry. I’d liked to have seen some innovation with diplomacy too but sadly we somehow got even more simplistic and boring diplomacy than 6. Keep in mind they basically changed ALL of the building names too - which have been the same since at least Civ 4.

Again, I don’t want Civ 6 with updated graphics, I welcome innovation so long as it isn’t a complete overhaul of the series bedrock.