Paradox Interactive, following a turbulent release of Cities: Skylines 2, is turning back to its predecessor, Cities: Skylines, with new paid downloadable content (DLC). The company initially appeared to conclude updates for the original game over a year ago, in May 2022, when it announced its last major update and a shift in focus to Cities: Skylines 2.
However, issues with the sequel have led Paradox to revisit the original game, which has proven to be a more stable and popular product among players. This return to Cities: Skylines suggests that Paradox is keen on stabilizing its franchise reputation while continuing to work on Cities: Skylines 2 improvements.
The launch of Cities: Skylines 2 was marked by numerous technical problems that detracted from the game’s gameplay and simulation experience. Despite extensive pre-launch anticipation, performance issues and bugs affected players’ reception. Paradox and the game’s developer, Colossal Order, have since been working to address these issues through patches, though the game remains problematic.
The first DLC for the sequel also faced backlash due to technical issues, leading the developers to offer it for free as an apology to disappointed fans. These setbacks have delayed the game’s planned content roadmap, with some DLCs postponed for over a year as the developers prioritize fixing core issues.
In light of the struggles with Cities: Skylines 2, Paradox recently released three new paid DLC packs for the original Cities: Skylines, themed around outdoor and alpine settings. The Mountain Village Pack and Map Pack 3 introduce new mountainous terrains and building options, while Radio Station Alpine Tunes adds new music to the game.
This new content demonstrates Paradox’s continued commitment to the original title, which has maintained a steady player base while providing fresh experiences for fans without the technical difficulties that have plagued the sequel.
Paradox clarified that the release of new DLC for Cities: Skylines does not interfere with the development efforts on Cities: Skylines 2. According to Paradox’s announcement, the DLC was developed by Tantalus, the studio responsible for the console ports of Cities: Skylines, rather than Colossal Order.
This arrangement allows Colossal Order to remain fully focused on addressing the technical issues in Cities: Skylines 2 without impacting resources dedicated to its development. Paradox’s strategic use of Tantalus for the DLC ensures that both games can receive attention simultaneously without compromising one for the other.
This situation reflects Paradox Interactive’s strategy to balance its fanbase’s expectations while managing the challenges of a new game launch. By revitalizing the original Cities: Skylines with fresh content, Paradox appeals to loyal players who may have been frustrated by Cities: Skylines 2’s rocky release.
At the same time, the company’s reassurances about resource allocation highlight its dedication to improving the sequel and addressing fan concerns, in hopes of eventually delivering on the promise that Cities: Skylines 2 held at launch.
