Cities: Skylines 2 developer Colossal Order has faced challenges in announcing a console release date for the city builder sequel due to “hardware limitations” affecting Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 performance. The initial plan to launch the game on consoles alongside PC in October was postponed to 2024 to meet quality standards, but after issues on PC, the console release was put on hold.
Colossal Order shared updates on Steam regarding the obstacles in bringing Cities: Skylines 2 to consoles, citing simulation and graphics issues that impact gameplay when certain actions are taken. The system struggles with data load when placing large buildings, causing performance bottlenecks and noticeable problems. Despite lowering graphics quality to achieve stability on consoles, compromises that affect gameplay quality are not acceptable to the developers.
The console launch date for Cities: Skylines 2 remains uncertain until these issues are resolved to avoid misleading estimates. Colossal Order emphasized that the console release is a top priority, and they are actively working with experts to find solutions and optimize simulation and memory usage for the console version.
Following the PC release challenges and criticism, ensuring the console version meets quality standards is crucial for Colossal Order and Paradox. The upcoming PC patch promises gameplay fixes and UI improvements, along with the release of a free United Kingdom region pack. Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester acknowledged previous project missteps and expressed the need for change to improve project outcomes in the future.
The commitment to addressing hardware limitations and gameplay issues before releasing Cities: Skylines 2 on consoles demonstrates Colossal Order’s dedication to delivering an optimal gaming experience for players. By prioritizing quality and performance, the developers aim to ensure that the console version meets expectations and provides an enjoyable city-building experience for fans of the franchise.
