When is the Cities Skylines 2 release date? A sequel to the beloved city-builder was announced back in March 2023 at Paradox Interactive’s announcement show, much to the delight of fans of the original. We have a fixed release date and plenty of details on what you can expect at launch thanks to a further appearance at the Xbox Games Showcase for Summer Game Fest.
During the Paradox announcement show, Colossal Order CEO Mariina Hallikainen took the time to celebrate the eight-year anniversary of Cities Skylines, as well as the 5.5 million new players that the city-building game has picked up in the past year alone. With such a thriving community, you could be forgiven for thinking that a sequel would still be far off. Thankfully, Colossal Order has been hard at work to bring us the latest instalment, and it’s even earned itself a firm fixture in the calendar. This is everything we know about the Cities Skylines 2 release date, gameplay, trailers, and more.
Cities Skylines 2 release date
The Cities Skylines 2 release date is set for October 24, 2023. This was finally confirmed in the pre-order trailer that aired during the Xbox Games Showcase this year. It’s due to arrive on PC via Steam and Game Pass, alongside PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
Is Cities Skylines 2 on Game Pass?
Yes, Cities Skylines 2 is on Game Pass. We have confirmation from the Xbox Games Showcase that it’s due to arrive on day one of release, so Game Pass subscribers will have full access to the standard edition immediately at launch.
Cities Skylines 2 trailers
The Cities Skylines 2 pre-order trailer debuted as part of the Xbox Games Showcase this year. It packs a staggering number of features in its two-minute runtime, to the extent that we had to slow down the playback speed just to digest it all. In this trailer, we get a glimpse the revamped UI and building tools implemented across a wide variety of cities, from a bustling concrete jungle to a contiguous residential district bolstered by a new university. You can extend bridges across wide rivers, design spaghetti motorways, and craft a robust public transportation system.
Of course, you need to manage your resources to keep your city ticking over like a well-oiled machine – though if you do opt for a coal power plant, air pollution is sure to follow. Not that relying on renewable resources is any less complex; forestry requires managing a delicate balance of your production, land fertility, and renewal rates. All of these features culminate in a functioning, thriving metropolis complete with roads, electricity, and happy citizens.
While the Cities Skylines 2 announcement trailer doesn’t feature any actual gameplay, its powerful voiceover and animated buildings shed some more light on what we can come to expect from the Cities Skylines sequel.
The trailer opens with a plant germinating, its roots growing through the ground. Soon melding with electrical wires, the camera follows them up to a lamppost on the outskirts of a distant city. While only cinematic, this snapshot is the first of many that show off stunning futuristic cities alongside bustling pedestrian areas and lush parks. Much like the original, it looks like Cities Skylines 2 is carefully imitating the dynamics of real cities while also offering players a chance to customize the landscape as much as possible.
Throughout the two-minute cinematic trailer, we see the humble beginnings and the evolution of an intricate metropolis. Seasons change, and buildings along the skyline grow taller, with bridges, roundabouts and highways to boot. Notably, the trailer features a lot of unique pedestrians living independent lives. It appears that Colossal Order wants players to feel as though their cities are lived in, and the sequel may be focusing on developing that aspect of the experience.
Cities Skylines 2 gameplay
There hasn’t been a great deal of news on Cities Skylines 2 gameplay just yet. While there were many potential features seen and explained via the announcement trailer’s voiceover, it was primarily cinematic and did not feature actual gameplay. However, a list of Cities Skylines 2 Xbox achievements has surfaced, offering precious insight into what might be possible for players.
Notably, some achievements mention the impact of seasonal weather, and others reward destructive results. From tornados to meteors and even rat infestations, there appears to be no shortage of ways players may be punished as they expand higher and further. Whether these are random occurrences or come as a result of criteria being met is still unknown. The original Cities Skylines offered players an option to toggle off random disasters; fingers crossed that’s true of the sequel too. The ‘Snapshot’ achievement also suggests the sequel will have a dedicated photo mode, which is great for those who want to share their creations.
Another important achievement is ‘Go Anywhere’, which rewards having 20 active transport lines. The original Cities Skylines offered players a large range of different transports to lay in the city, from buses to metro tunnels and cargo ships, amongst others. This achievement supports the idea the sequel will feature a lot of transport options for players to tinker with. The ‘I Made This’ achievement also seems to suggest the game will have an editor where players can make assets.
As for the citizens, there are plenty of hoops to jump through there. Achievements surrounding city policies and happiness exist, as well as educational prowess. To achieve ‘Top of the Class’ players will need to boast a population where 20% have a university-level education. Additionally, ‘You Little Stalker!’ is an achievement that rewards players who monitor a citizen from childhood to old age. Creepy!
Cities Skylines 2 Ultimate Edition
The Cities Skylines 2 Ultimate Edition is currently the only special edition confirmed thus far. The bundle includes the base game, expansion pass, and an instant unlock for the San Fransisco on the Cities Skylines 2 release date.
The Cities Skylines 2 Ultimate Edition includes:
- Base game
- Bridges and Ports expansion
- San Francisco set
- Beach Properties asset pack
- Urban Promenades content creator pack
- Modern Architecture content creator pack
- Deluxe Relax Station radio station
- Soft Rock Radio radio station
- Cold Wave Channel radio station
Now you know everything there is to know about the Cities Skylines 2 release date, make sure you read up on the system requirements. We’ve also got a list of the best Cities Skylines mods to spice up your gameplay for the original game while you wait. Our collection of the best management games may take your fancy, too.
