Cities: Skylines is one of the most well-loved city-builder games out there.

Since EA dropped the ball so dramatically with 2013’s SimCity, Paradox was able to swoop in and claim that game’s disgruntled fanbase, which was looking for an in-depth city-builder that respected their time and money.

That’s exactly what the original Cities: Skylines was, and since then, the game has gone from strength to strength, with tons of expansion packs and DLC being created over the years.

All good things must come to an end, though, and so Paradox has finally decided to move on and create a brand new game. Cities: Skylines 2 is the successor to the popular city-builder, and it’s coming very soon indeed.

We thought we’d take this opportunity to take a look at everything we know about Cities: Skylines 2 right now, including its release date, features, any trailers you need to see, and more. Let’s get started!

Cities: Skylines 2 release date

The Cities: Skylines 2 release date was October 24th. 

That’s when the game is landing on PC, at any rate. You can buy it on Steam, of course, like the majority of PC games; this one’s not an Epic store exclusive.

The console situation is a little more complicated, however, so if you are a PS5 or Xbox Series gamer and you want to know when Cities: Skylines 2 is launching, your situation isn’t quite as straightforward.

The console version was originally supposed to launch alongside the PC game, but Paradox subsequently delayed this edition of the game, moving it to spring 2024.

No more specific date was announced, either, so console gamers don’t even know when they’ll be able to play the game anymore, which is a shame.

However, we do know that Cities: Skylines 2 will still be launching on Xbox Game Pass on day one when it does arrive on console, so you don’t need to worry about buying it if you’re planning to play it via subscription.

In addition, your pre-order for the game should already have been refunded if you placed it with Paradox, although you should definitely talk to the retailer with whom you pre-ordered and organise a refund if you’ve used a third-party store.

Cities: Skylines 2 features—what can you do in the game?

As a sequel to Cities: Skylines, this followup will, of course, expand the many systems present in the original.

The game map will be significantly larger, and many of the interlocking mechanics will be more complex and intricate, although Paradox is emphasising complexity and not complicated design.

Traffic systems and pedestrian AI have been improved, for instance, and the road-building interface has also been worked on, so you should find it easier to construct road networks in your city now.

As with many other city-builders, the weather is an important consideration in Cities: Skylines 2 as well. You’ll have to contend with adverse weather conditions and climate problems, just like a real city-planner would.

Together with deep economic simulation mechanics and jaw-dropping graphics (which we’ll come onto in a minute), Cities: Skylines 2 promises to be the definitive city-builder in its genre.

Cities: Skylines 2 Features

Cities: Skylines 2 features a number of new and improved features over the original game, including:

• Massive size increase: Cities: Skylines 2 features a whopping 150 map tiles, five times more than the original game. This allows players to build cities of an unprecedented scale.
• Climate and seasons: Cities: Skylines 2 introduces a new climate system, with four distinct seasons that affect the gameplay in a variety of ways. For example, snow can impact traffic and require additional snow removal services, while hurricanes can cause damage to buildings and infrastructure.
• Deeper city services: Cities: Skylines 2 features a number of new and improved city services, such as a more sophisticated traffic management system, a more realistic education system, and a more complex healthcare system.
• Map changes and themes: Cities: Skylines 2 features a variety of new map types, as well as the ability to create custom maps. Players can also choose from a variety of architectural themes, such as North American and European.
• New zones and signature buildings: Cities: Skylines 2 features a number of new zoning types, such as industrial parks and eco-zones. Players can also build a variety of new signature buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.

In addition to these new features, Cities: Skylines 2 also includes a number of improvements to the existing gameplay, such as a more user-friendly interface and a better performing game engine.

Overall, Cities: Skylines 2 is a significant upgrade over the original game, offering players more features, more content, and a more polished experience.

Cities: Skylines 2 system requirements – can you run it?

The Cities: Skylines community expressed some concern recently when the game’s system requirements were raised beyond their original values.

Initially, it seemed like anyone with a halfway-decent computer could run Cities: Skylines 2, but now, you’re going to need a pretty beefy machine just to enjoy the game at 1080p resolution.

Here are the new system requirements for Cities: Skylines 2.

Minimum

• Windows 10 Home 64-bit
• Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
• 8GB RAM
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 4GB or AMD equivalent

Recommended

• Windows 10 Home 64-bit or Windows 11
• Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
• 16GB RAM
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 10GB or AMD equivalent

As you can see, Cities: Skylines 2 isn’t playing when it comes to system requirements. 

The RTX 3080 is not a card that a lot of gamers will have upgraded to yet; many gamers are still running cards from the 20 series, and it looks like that won’t quite be good enough for Cities: Skylines 2.

As such, if you’re seriously excited to check out Cities: Skylines 2, you may want to upgrade your card so that your machine is definitely ready to play it, otherwise you might be disappointed on launch day.

It’s probable that the system requirements for Cities: Skylines 2, and the demanding performance that is the probable cause of those system requirements, is also the reason for the console delay.

Colossal Order and Paradox likely need more time to ensure that the console versions don’t run at a crawl; the Xbox Series S, in particular, might be causing the developer some issues due to its relatively underpowered performance.

Of course, that’s just speculation on our part; we can’t know for sure!

Cities: Skylines 2 trailers – which ones should you watch?

On the official Cities: Skylines YouTube channel, you’ll find tons of trailers and how-to videos introducing Cities: Skylines 2.

We’re not going to walk through each and every one of them, because there are a lot, but suffice it to say that if you want an introduction to all of the new features that Cities: Skylines 2 will introduce, this is where you should go.

From cargo and transportation through to traffic AI and building zoning, there are videos to show off the improvements Cities: Skylines 2 has made, and you’ll often find an accompanying developer insight video that goes into even more detail about that feature.

In more recent weeks, new videos about starting a city and understanding the game’s mechanics have been released on the channel in conjunction with YouTuber Timeister.

These videos are designed to help ease you into the world of Cities: Skylines 2 so that you can understand how best to construct a city if you’re a beginner.

Review: Is it worth getting?

Cities: Skylines 2 stands as a monumental upgrade over its predecessor, promising city-building enthusiasts a plethora of enhanced features, richer content, and an overall refined gaming experience. One of the most notable advancements is the expansive size of the game; the sequel boasts an impressive 150 map tiles, quintupling the original’s capacity. This broad canvas allows gamers to erect vast, sprawling metropolises, further bolstering creativity and innovative city planning. Additionally, introducing a dynamic climate system, Cities: Skylines 2 presents four vivid seasons, each influencing gameplay uniquely. From snow affecting traffic to hurricanes damaging infrastructure, this system adds layers of realism and strategy.

Supplementing these changes are the augmented city services, which feature nuanced traffic management, a closer-to-reality education module, and a comprehensive healthcare system. These enhancements grant gamers deeper control and facilitate the design of sustainable urban spaces. On the customization front, the game offers diversified map types, supports custom map creation, and introduces architectural themes, such as North American and European styles. Moreover, the inclusion of new zones like industrial parks, eco-zones, and iconic structures, such as the Eiffel Tower, amplifies development options and encourages unique landmark creation.

Alongside these major enhancements, Cities: Skylines 2 is optimized with a user-centric interface and a high-performance engine, making it accessible to both novices and pros. The AI improvements stand out, ensuring more lifelike citizen behavior and efficient traffic dynamics, thereby raising the gameplay’s challenge quotient. New mechanics, like multi-tiered roads and the inception of specialized districts, coupled with an array of customization options, empower players to manifest their urban vision distinctively.

With few games excelling in this niche; city-building games remain a rarity. However, City Skylines and City Skylines 2 are part of the reason for this – they are hard to beat!

In summation, Cities: Skylines 2 isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a comprehensive reimagining that guarantees a captivating, content-rich, and rewarding city-building venture, solidifying its position as an indispensable pick for enthusiasts.

Useful Resources

You can buy City Skylines 2 from Amazon here.

You can visit the official site here.