Cities Skylines 2 Appears to Be Adopting a Controversial Release Model Similar to The Sims!

Cities: Skylines, known for its extensive DLC packs that enriched gameplay with new features and aesthetics, established itself as a premier city builder. The anticipation for Cities: Skylines 2 was palpable among fans. However, upon its release in 2023, some players noted a peculiar absence of beloved content that had been introduced through DLCs in the original game. This left certain mechanics feeling less robust compared to their predecessors.

The situation mirrors a controversial approach seen in The Sims series, starting with The Sims 2. Maxis often reserves fan-favorite content, such as pets, seasons, universities, and city-themed elements, for expansion packs. While this strategy has proven successful, it can be frustrating for players who expect sequels to build upon established foundations rather than withhold content for later monetization.

In the case of Cities: Skylines 2, it appears that significant features from the original game’s DLCs have been omitted. Players can no longer utilize tools like the park area tool, face limitations in university construction, find airports less detailed, and financial districts are notably absent. Additionally, beloved radio stations and content creator packs didn’t make the transition. While Cities: Skylines 2 may have enhanced certain aspects of city simulation, the omission of this content may disappoint those who invested extensive hours in the original game.

Colossal Order has yet to announce the first DLC packs for Cities: Skylines 2, but it’s reasonable to expect them in the future. Given the substantial cutbacks from the original game’s DLCs, there’s a likelihood that new iterations of this content may emerge in the sequel’s post-launch roadmap. This potential direction echoes The Sims’ approach, which, while successful, can be contentious. On the other hand, if the sequel chooses not to follow this path, it might be a missed opportunity for the deserving content to shine. Thus, Cities: Skylines 2 finds itself at a crossroads in terms of how it addresses this issue.