Cities: Skylines 2 was released in October 2023 and was due to receive some creator packs and a whole expansion, but they have all since been delayed, as Paradox and Colossal Order posted in a new Steam post. The Creator Packs named Modern Architecture and Urban Promenades are being pushed back to Q4 of this year, while the Bridges & Ports major expansion will launch in Q2 of 2025 instead.
Compared to the first Cities: Skylines game, this one wasn't as well received and has a Mixed review rating on Steam. This predominantly comes from people who pre-ordered and still haven't received items they were promised to receive as a gift for pre-ordering. The game is also incredibly broken and bug-ridden. On top of that, they now have to deal with the delays of the new Creator Packs and significant expansion.
The delays are being made so that both Paradox and Colossal Order can focus on the upcoming Asset Editor, which is something else that players have complained about. They noticed a severe lack of custom assets, making the gameplay feel samey and rushed. Instead of focusing on the expansions, they are funneling all of their focus into the Asset Editor, which is described as being "one of the most crucial remaining features" for modding.
In addition, the studios are saying that the delays will allow them to make the game enjoyable for the community, which as stated above, is an ongoing concern, as the game launched with a myriad of issues that are still there, even today.
In addition to PC delays, Cities: Skylines 2 still isn't out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, adding to the community's increasing frustration. It seems the developers are spinning too many plates, as they have a significant amount of base content to work on before they can focus on the Creator Packs and expansion.
The one main issue that Colossal Order is set on fixing and making more enjoyable for players is the issue with hotels and tourism. They are also working on the various bugs and performance issues that those playing it are experiencing. The difficulty is another area that is deemed problematic, as it is seemingly unbalanced, regardless of what difficulty you are on. As a result, they are also working on this to try and make the game more balanced and playable in every aspect.
Although it's taking a while, the Steam post gives the energy and impression that the developers care about the project and are putting fans' happiness at the forefront of their concerns.
Read Chris' review here if you want to see what we thought about the game.
