After a fruitful collaboration spanning fifteen years, Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order have decided to embark on different paths. Colossal Order will be leaving the Cities: Skylines franchise to explore new creative endeavors, while Iceflake Studios, also under Paradox Interactive, will take over the reins of the popular city-building series.
A New Era for Cities: Skylines
The announcement of this transition was made public through a detailed post, emphasizing that the decision was made thoughtfully, considering the best interests of both teams and the future of the Cities: Skylines series. Paradox Interactive will continue to oversee the franchise, with Iceflake Studios stepping in to manage future developments. Meanwhile, Colossal Order anticipates leveraging its extensive experience to innovate on new projects.
Despite the rocky launch of Cities Skylines 2 in 2023, which faced criticism for its lack of content and performance issues, this strategic shift aims to revitalize the franchise. The game has struggled with mixed reviews on Steam, even with Colossal Order’s efforts to address these issues through updates and a comprehensive roadmap.
Transition and Future Prospects
Although Colossal Order is moving on, they will still be involved in the transition throughout 2025, ensuring a seamless handover to Iceflake Studios, which will officially take over in 2026. Iceflake is also charged with completing the console version of Cities Skylines 2, with no current update on its release timeline.
Iceflake Studios’ studio manager, Lasse Liljedahl, expressed excitement and commitment to honor the legacy of the Cities franchise. With a decade of experience in city-building games, Iceflake is poised to bring new energy and potential to the series, promising fans an exciting new chapter.