As Cities: Skyline 2 attempts to bounce back from a rocky launch last year, Paradox Interactive has surprised fans by releasing new paid DLC for the original Cities: Skylines, a game that many thought had reached the end of its update cycle.
The initial roadmap for Cities: Skylines 1 was supposed to conclude with the release of the final mini-expansion, Hotels & Retreats, in May of last year. However, the game’s developer, Colossal Order, continued to provide support through 2023 as the focus shifted to Cities: Skylines 2.
Unfortunately, Cities: Skylines 2’s launch faced several setbacks, leading to delays in Paradox’s DLC plans. The company even had to delay all future paid DLC indefinitely due to negative player feedback. Colossal Order had to divert its attention to improving the base game, causing further delays in DLC releases.
Despite these challenges, Paradox Interactive has decided to revisit the original Cities: Skylines by launching three new paid DLC packs themed around mountain landscapes. The Mountain Village Pack, Map Pack 3, and the Radio Station Alpine Tunes music pack are now available for players.
In the DLC announcement, Paradox reassured players that the new content was created independently of Cities: Skylines 2 and in partnership with developer Tantalus. Colossal Order remains focused on the development of Cities: Skylines 2.
All three DLC packs for Cities: Skylines 1 are currently available on PC, with upcoming free community-created region packs launching for Cities: Skylines 2 next week, inspired by iconic cities around the world.
This release comes at a challenging time for Paradox Interactive, with several setbacks affecting their recent projects. Alongside the issues with Cities: Skylines 2, other games like Prison Architect 2 and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 have faced delays and cancellations. Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester acknowledged the missteps the company has made and expressed a desire for change.