When was 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 eighth 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 installment. This is everything we knew about the Cities Skylines 2 release date, gameplay, trailers, and more.
Cities Skylines 2 release date
The Cities Skylines 2 release date was Tuesday, October 24, 2023, as officially confirmed by Paradox Interactive. The game is now available on PC via Steam, with day one access on Game Pass, alongside the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S launch.
Is Cities Skylines 2 on Game Pass?
Yes, Cities Skylines 2 is now available for Game Pass. We got confirmation from the Xbox Games Showcase that it would arrive on day one of the release, so Game Pass subscribers have full access to the standard edition immediately.
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, so we had to slow down the playback speed just to digest it all. In this trailer, we get a glimpse of the revamped UI and building tools implemented across various 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
A great deal of Cities Skylines 2 gameplay was revealed on the official YouTube channel, which includes a variety of feature highlights and developer insights. We already know that there are 441 Cities Skylines 2 tiles to build upon, making the map five times bigger than its predecessor.
We also know some of the finer details concerning the Cities Skylines 2 electricity and water systems, the additional money we can expect to gain from its updated economy, and the overhaul of services like landfills, schools, and hospitals. We’re even getting a new Cities Skylines traffic system and mixed zoning, along with the ability to (finally!) reinvigorate abandoned houses.
A list of Cities Skylines 2 Xbox achievements has also surfaced, offering precious insight into what might be possible once we get our hands on the city-builder ourselves.
Notably, some achievements mention the impact of seasons, 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. 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 many different transports to lay in the city, including buses, metro tunnels, cargo ships, and more. 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, an expansion pass with Cities Skylines 2 DLC, and an instant unlock for the San Fransisco pack 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 that the game’s release date is finally here, make sure you read up on the Cities Skylines 2 system requirements. We’ve also got our wishlist of Cities Skylines 2 mods that we hope will spice up your gameplay. Our collection of the best management games may take your fancy, too.
You should also take a look at our Cities Skylines 2 guide as it has tips on how to get started, as well as links to other guides within, such as our Cities Skylines 2 traffic, Cities Skylines 2 money, and Cities Skylines 2 garbage guides.