Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive conclude partnership on Cities: Skylines

Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive agreed to pursue independent paths, concluding the partnership on the Cities: Skylines franchise. The development of the next title, Cities: Skylines II, has been handed over to Iceflake Studios, a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive. This, according to the official Paradox Interactive blog post, includes free updates for the current version and continuous work on the Editor and console editions, as well as future expansions and content packs. 

Mariina Hallikainen, CEO of Colossal Order, stated that the partnership had been a defining part of the company’s journey. 

“When we set out to create Cities in Motion, we never imagined it would grow to become a cherished franchise with a passionate, loyal community of millions of players around the world,” Mariina Hallikainen said. The CEO thanked Paradox for their trust and collaboration, as well as the community’s incredible support for the franchise. 

Mattias Lilja, Deputy CEO of Paradox Interactive, added a statement as well:

“On our end, we’re eager to continue working for the passionate Cities: Skylines community and make sure to provide them with more content and new experiences.”

Before leaving, Colossal Order will implement a few additional updates, including the Bike Patch, Old Town buildings, bug fixes, and general improvements. Iceflake Studios, the development studio now responsible for the franchise, has had a decade’s worth of experience creating city-building and management games. 

Cities: Skylines II launched in 2023, featuring a complex simulation that includes a living economy, individual citizen tracking, and a massive scale. The title is available on PC, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S ports having been indefinitely delayed.