Greetings to all supporters of Cities,
We are fully aware of and empathize with the frustration felt by many following the launch of Cities: Skylines II and the subsequent introduction of Beach Properties. Your patience and backing were solicited, and despite your generous response, we fell short of expectations. Our ambition to rectify the game’s flaws within an impractical period led us to prematurely release a DLC that was not ready for the public. For these missteps, we deeply apologize. Our past commitments to enhance the game have yet to materialize at a pace or scale that meets standards, which regrettably has eroded the trust of many within our community. Our aim is to elevate our performance.
In an immediate effort to redress, we are taking steps to rectify the situation for those who have purchased Beach Properties by making the pack available at no extra cost, issuing refunds where feasible, and integrating additional content into the Ultimate Edition. However, refunding Ultimate Edition purchases presents challenges due to its availability across various digital and physical platforms, complicating the process for partial refunds. Recognizing the loyalty of our longstanding fans, we seek to acknowledge their dedication by augmenting the Ultimate Edition with 3 Creator Packs and 3 Radio Stations, collectively valued at USD 39.99, as a gesture of our commitment to deliver value.
Moving forward, our focus will sharpen on both enhancing the core game and its modding capabilities, and on fostering a more inclusive dialogue with you, our community, to better align our development priorities. We will prioritize complimentary updates and patches in the ensuing months, delaying the release of new paid content, including the Bridges and Ports Expansion until 2025. Rest assured, the development of the Creator Packs will proceed independently and will not detract from our efforts to improve the game. To ensure we are addressing the right areas, we will convene an advisory panel comprised of community representatives and the teams from Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive to discuss the development roadmap for the coming year. Our aim is to provide complete transparency and address any feedback directly, uniting with our community to avoid past errors and guide the game towards a prosperous future.
Regarding the upcoming Console release, initially slated for this spring, we acknowledge our hesitancy in providing a definitive launch date due to existing uncertainties. Efforts to optimize Cities: Skylines II for a console debut have been challenging, but we are hopeful that the forthcoming April build will mark a significant advancement towards finalizing a release candidate, with an aim for an October release. Nevertheless, final confirmation of the release date will depend on the outcomes of these next phases, with an understanding that uncertainties may still affect our timeline. Our commitment remains to deliver an exemplary experience upon launch, requiring additional time to achieve. It is important to mention that a separate team is dedicated to the console version, allowing our main team to continue their focus on PC development without division.
In conclusion, we wish to reiterate our unwavering commitment to refining Cities: Skylines II to fulfill its potential as the premier city-building game. We value your ongoing support and constructive criticism and are hopeful for the opportunity to restore your confidence in us. Earning back your trust is a responsibility we take seriously, and we view our outlined actions as an initial step towards that goal.
We express our profound appreciation for your enduring enthusiasm for our game. Please keep an eye out for further announcements regarding the game and details on the refund process. Thank you for being an essential part of our community.
With sincere regards,
Mariina Hallikainen
CEO, Colossal Order
Mattias Lilja
Deputy CEO, Paradox Interactive
For more detailed information on refund procedures and updates on release schedules, we have developed an FAQ page.
