Cities: Skylines 2 will launch with performance issues, Paradox has warned players

Paradox Interactive will release Cities: Skylines 2 for PC next week as planned, but it has warned players that they may experience performance issues.

The publisher acknowledged concerns about performance issues in an update published on Monday, just one week ahead of the game’s October 24 launch date.

These concerns arose after Paradox announced last month that it was raising the minimum and recommended specs for the PC version of the game, while delaying the console versions from this month to spring 2024.

“As we’ve always believed in transparency, we’d like to further shed some light on the current state of the build,” Paradox said today.

“Cities: Skylines II is a next-gen title, and naturally, it demands certain hardware requirements. With that said, while our team has worked tirelessly to deliver the best experience possible, we have not achieved the benchmark we targeted.

“In light of this, we still think for the long-term of the project, releasing now is the best way forward. We are proud of the unique gameplay and features in Cities: Skylines II, and we genuinely believe that it offers a great experience that you will enjoy.

“We will continually improve the game over the coming months, but we also want to manage expectations on performance for the coming release,” it continued.

“Our ambition is for Cities: Skylines II to be enjoyed by as many players as possible, and we’re committed to ensuring it reaches its full potential.

“Thanks for your understanding and continuous support. We’re lucky to have a community as passionate and dedicated as you.”

Paradox also provided an update on plans for Cities Skylines 2 mods, noting that its in-game editor is currently in its beta phase and is scheduled to launch shortly after the title’s release.

“While the modding tool will have a basic framework at its inception, we are dedicated to its continuous expansion and enhancement, making it a central focus of our development efforts moving forward,” it said. “More in-depth details about the editor and its roadmap ahead will be shared shortly – keep an eye out for our dev diaries.

“Secondly, we’re introducing Paradox Mods as the new mods platform for Cities: Skylines II. One of the core reasons for this is its inclusivity; modding capabilities will be extended to players across platforms – both PC and console – aligning with our commitment to provide as many as possible with the opportunity to modify and enjoy the game.”

Further reading

Early Access for Paradox’s Sims rival Life by You has been delayed by 6 months

To improve various elements including visuals, UI and mod tools

Paradox said earlier this month that it was writing down development costs for The Lamplighters League following a disappointing launch for the game.

Developed by internal studio Harebrained Schemes, the tactical turn-based strategy game is an original pulp adventure set in an alternate 1930s, which tasks players with assembling a team of misfits to stop an ancient cult.

“The Lamplighters League is a fun game with many strengths,” Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester said. “Even though we see cautiously positive player numbers in subscription services, the commercial reception has been too weak, which is frankly a big disappointment.”