Fast Facts
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Split Announcement: Paradox Interactive has ended its partnership with Colossal Order, the studio behind Cities: Skylines II, as Colossal Order shifts focus to new projects after final updates.
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Intellectual Property Transfer: The Cities: Skylines intellectual property remains with Paradox, which will transfer future development to Iceflake Studios, an internal team based in Finland.
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Development Timeline: Iceflake Studios will oversee all aspects of Cities: Skylines II, including future content updates and the anticipated console version set for release in 2026.
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Development Challenges: The game has faced significant issues, including bugs and performance problems, leading to a limited PC launch and ongoing tensions within the community.
Colossal Order Parts Ways with Paradox Interactive in Skylines II Development
Colossal Order, the studio behind the popular Cities: Skylines II, has officially parted ways with game publisher Paradox Interactive. This move marks a significant shift for the city-building franchise, which began with its original release in 2015.
Following a challenging development period, Colossal Order will focus on completing a few last updates before moving on to new projects. As part of this transition, the intellectual property will stay with Paradox, which announced that development will continue under Iceflake Studios, a Finland-based internal team. Beginning in 2026, Iceflake will handle all future updates and the highly anticipated console version.
This decision comes after two years of attempting to improve the sequel and address ongoing technical issues. Although the game was originally set to launch in October 2023, it only became available for PC, featuring higher minimum specs and numerous bugs. These complications led to frustration among players, creating tension between the studio and the game’s dedicated audience.
Despite the current hurdles, Cities: Skylines II has stabilized, with ongoing efforts to deliver new content. Developers are hopeful that the internal team at Iceflake will breathe fresh life into the franchise. The change allows Colossal Order to explore new creative avenues while Paradox continues to utilize the Cities: Skylines brand.
Urban innovation remains a vital topic, especially as cities evolve in response to societal needs. This split could encourage more focused development, ultimately fostering smarter cities that enhance the living experience for their inhabitants. As the landscape of urban gaming shifts, players can look forward to thoughtful advancements in the genre.
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