Summary
After taking the city builder genre by storm back in 2015, Colossal Order was set to do it all over again with the release ofCities: Skylines 2in 2023. But while that game may do a lot of things right, it has also fallen flat with audiences for a plethora of reasons. Players have been met with numerous performance and technical issues that have overshadowed the many new additions it injected into the formula. That has putCities: Skylines 2in a rough spot with its DLC failing to pick up the pieces the way it needed to. Yet, there is a chance the studio can turn this around.
SomeCities: Skylinesplayersmay have turned their back on this sequel, but Colossal Order seemingly has not. And if the studio is actually as committed as it sounds, then there is a strong chance that this game can rectify its mistakes. Franchises likeSimCityhave shown that the city builder genre can be extremely successful, so with the right amount of care,Cities: Skylines 2may be able to cement itself within the genre’s kingpins. That being said, it will likely be far from an easy fight.
Cities: Skylines 2 Has the Potential to be Truly Special
The lead-up tothe release ofCities: Skylines 2was an exciting time, as the studio had just spent eight years building one of the best city builders around through loads of content updates and DLC packs. It felt like the game was being set up for success, and even though the announcement of DLC before the game was released was controversial, it was still extremely exciting to see what the studio had in store. However, upon release, players were given little reason to make the jump over.
AlthoughCities: Skylines 2may have added many new features to the concept, the game was filled to the brim with technical issues. On top of that, it also suffered from performance issues that would often slow down the experience considerably. While the studio did release some patches to address this, it still has a long way to go. ThefirstCities: Skylines 2DLCdid little to alleviate players' concerns, with many feeling like it showed that the studio was more interested in paid content than fixing the city builder’s many issues.
Paradox and Colossal Order Seem Committed to Righting the Ship
Cities: Skylines 2’s Beach Properties DLCproved extremely controversial with the fanbase because of its price, lack of content, and the fact the base game still has problems. In response, Colossal Order has issued a refund to those who purchased it. Additionally, the pack has now become a free addition to the game and Ultimate Edition owners will be given three extra Creator Packs and three new Radio Stations to compensate. The first major expansion has also been pushed back to 2025, as the studio wants to prioritize free patches and updates over the next couple of months.
Along with that, Colossal Order and Paradox are also planning to put together an advisory meeting with player representatives to discussCities: Skylines 2’s development plan. The studio wants to ensure that it is focusing on the correct things, while also increasing transparency with the community. It remains to be seen if this approach will help, but it does sound like some promising changes are in store.
Although unconfirmed,Cities: Skylines 2’s recent mishaps may also be impacting other upcoming Paradox simulators. This week,the hotly anticipatedPrison Architect 2was delayed from May 7 to September 3. This delay could be completely unrelated to what is happening over at Colossal Order, but the fact they are both simulators and it happened a day afterCities: Skylines 2’s changes means there might be some connections there.
It seems like Colossal Order, and by extension Paradox, wants to fix upCities: Skylines 2so that it can be the best city builder around. Even though some players may have already written the title off, the studio might be able to win them back if it plays its cards right. The game does have some strong foundations, and with a few changes, it could be the face of the genre for years. So, hopefully, it is given that chance.
Cities: Skylines 2
WHERE TO PLAY
If you can dream it, you can build it. Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into the thriving metropolis only you can imagine. You’ve never experienced building on this scale. With deep simulation and a living economy, Cities: Skylines II delivers world-building without limits.Lay the foundations for your city to begin. Create the roads, infrastructure, and systems that make life possible day to day. It’s up to you – all of it.How your city grows is your call too, but plan strategically. Every decision has an impact. Can you energize local industries while also using trade to boost the economy? What will make residential districts flourish without killing the buzz downtown? How will you meet the needs and desires of citizens while balancing the city’s budget?Your city never rests. Like any living, breathing world, it changes over time. Some changes will be slow and gradual, while others will be sudden and unexpected. So while seasons turn and night follows day, be ready to act when life doesn’t go to plan.The most realistic and detailed city builder ever, Cities: Skylines II pushes your creativity and problem-solving to another level. With beautifully rendered high-resolution graphics, it also inspires you to build the city of your dreams.
