Paradox Interactive
Maybe the primary clue that one thing was not fairly proper about Seaside Properties, the primary $10 DLC “enlargement” for the already off-kilter city-building sim Cities: Skylines 2, was that it didn’t include an actual seaside home, which one would possibly contemplate a key seaside property. The oversight appeared indicative of a content material pack that lacked for content material.
C:S2‘s builders and writer now agree and have revealed a letter to Cities followers, through which they provide apologies, updates, and refunds. Seaside Properties is now a free add-on, particular person patrons will probably be refunded (with particulars at a FAQ web page), and Final Version homeowners will obtain further Creator Packs and Radio Stations, since partial refunds are tough throughout totally different recreation shops.
“We thought we might make up for the shortcomings of the sport in a timeframe that was unrealistic, and rushed out a DLC that ought to not have been revealed in its present kind. For all this, we’re actually sorry,” reads the letter, signed by the CEOs of developer Colossal Order and writer Paradox Interactive. “Once we’ve made statements like this one earlier than, it’s included a pledge to maintain making enhancements, and whereas we’re engaged on these updates, they haven’t occurred at a velocity or magnitude that’s acceptable, and it pains us that we have now misplaced the belief of a lot of you. We wish to do higher.”
What’s going to occur subsequent, in keeping with the letter, are modifications in how the sport is improved and the way these enhancements are communicated. To wit:
- A “full deal with bettering the bottom recreation and modding instruments”
- Higher group involvement in selecting priorities
- Specializing in free patches and updates forward of paid content material
- Relatedly pushing “Bridges and Ports” enlargement to 2025
- Shifting Creator Packs work to impartial builders
- An “advisory assembly” between a small group of participant representatives with vital followings and developer and writer heads
For these desperate to see the sport on consoles, regardless of all this signaling of how far the bottom PC recreation may need to go, the letter affords an replace. An “upcoming construct supply in April” ought to present ample optimization progress to maneuver forward, with “a launch construct focused for October.” But till they’ll see the actual outcomes, no agency launch date may be made. The console workforce will function individually from the PC workforce, nonetheless, so it ought to transfer forward “with out splitting our focus or time.”
Put collectively, the C:S2 workforce’s actions, and plan for the best way ahead, appear to be cheap methods to verify their work meets with followers’ expectations. There is a honest quantity of constructive suggestions to the discussion board put up, nonetheless self-selecting “Paradox Discussion board members” could also be. I do surprise if there is a hazard of some homeowners and followers by no means contemplating the sport to be “adequate” to not react negatively to paid add-ons displaying up within the retailer. It is a tough factor, releasing a recreation that nearly inherently calls for a swath of future add-ons, packs, and expansions—the unique Cities: Skylines had greater than 60 add-ons.
In an interview with Ars, Colossal Order CEO Mariina Hallikainen mentioned that “engaged on new content material for the sport” was the factor she most regarded ahead to, “after, in fact, we’ve sorted excellent points.” There are seemingly many extra months of sorting to go earlier than the enjoyable new stuff arrives.
