Colossal Order is announcing their new title.

[MarkJohnson]

I just an got an email about the new Paradox Announcement Show March 6th.

I'm hoping for C:S2, but I get the feeling it will be some other title.

https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/paradox-announcement-show-2023

Cities Skylines II | Announcement Trailer I (CGI):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdD66WGBVHM

Wish list:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/949230/Cities_Skylines_II/

Discord:
https://discord.com/channels/263634513861541888/@home

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/citiesskylines/

Rock, Paper, Shotgun Article:

Paradox say we can learn more about the sequel “in the coming months,” but in the meantime, we can celebrate the original’s 8th birthday on March 10th.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/paradox-announce-revolutionary-cities-skylines-2-for-later-this-year

Achievement list:
https://www.trueachievements.com/n53097/cities-skylines-ii-xbox-achievements

City Planner Plays has an interesting take on the preview video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9XHvsm9OVE

Interview with Mariina Hallikainen | Colossal Order I 8 Years of Cities: Skylines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIfurHrCXmM

[Stealthy]

İlk olarak CyberVibes tarafından gönderildi:

12 million sales will dictate whether there's a new version and any business in their right mind would be looking to create a new game just based on that. It goes to show that theres a huge space in the city builder genre and CO along with Paradox are in the driving seat i have no doubt that we will see a new game as i remember back a few years ago them saying that this version would have a 5 year life span but due to modders and CO improving the code as we went along have added a bit more longevity.

Soon as they release a new version i'll be buying it and i'll still play the old version until the modders and DLC's catch up.

So at the same time they release a sequel and more DLC to this game?

Hardly.

And they never said 5 years. They said "as long as people play this and its technically viable, they will keep updating the game"

I just read through those articles from 2015 where this was said, in several of them.


And business works in a bit different manner compared to what many people think.

I hope I'm wrong and there will be a sequel. I'd love that. But nothing in business practice, strategy, in their announcements etc. points to that direction.

[CyberVibes]

I didn't say the next release would be the new version its very likely going to be a DLC or two. The world tour is an indicator that they are not finished with DLC for this version.
I'll try digging out the article where it said that they expected a 5 year life cycle later.

It took them 2 years to create the first version with a team of 5 now the teams much bigger and they have nearly 8 years of city builder coding, feedback and telemetrics to base a new game on i think it would be madness not to release a sequel.

[BliBlaBlu]

İlk olarak Stealthy tarafından gönderildi:

I hope I'm wrong and there will be a sequel. I'd love that. But nothing in business practice, strategy, in their announcements etc. points to that direction.

I don't think you are right or wrong, but from passionnate city building devs with 3 games like that. There is a lot more to do in that room from what it is possible to do in creativity and gaming territory. They also have been very aggressive with dlc lately, wich could indicate their last idea to prepare a newest version.

[Mazisky]

İlk olarak Stealthy tarafından gönderildi:

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/12m-sales-and-counting-whats-behind-cities-skylines-building-success

That's from last summer. See the last 3-4 paragraphs. Work with C:S continues, which also clearly says no to sequel. And considering everything else, including the fact that there is no technical or commercial reason for the sequel, it is safe to say it won't be their next title.

Last summer also Paradox said that Cities Skylines is closer to the end of its lifecycle than the beginning, which means the game won't be supported for much longer.

Not to mention a new Cities in Motion would compete with an already well established franchise (Transport Fever) while Cities Skylines won't have any competition.

Another reason to push for CS.

[Tsubame ⭐]

Cities in Motion and Transport Fever are not exactly competitors, one focuses on urban public transport, the other in intercity public transport and freight.

While sales of a CIM game would be lower than CS, it is feasible that a CIM 3 could be released as a stepping stone while they work towards CS:2.

[Mazisky]

İlk olarak Tsubame ⭐ tarafından gönderildi:

Cities in Motion and Transport Fever are not exactly competitors, one focuses on urban public transport, the other in intercity public transport and freight.

While sales of a CIM game would be lower than CS, it is feasible that a CIM 3 could be released as a stepping stone while they work towards CS:2.

Yeah all we say it is all speculation. For what we know it could be "Medieval Skylines" or "Hotel resort tycoon".

Only thing we know 100% is that it will be a management game.

[BoraBora]

İlk olarak Stealthy tarafından gönderildi:

So at the same time they release a sequel and more DLC to this game?

Hardly.

CS was teased in august 2014 and was released in march 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-F-vj2LVT8 Nothing indicates this new game we'll know about next monday will be released this quarter or even before september. In the meantime it makes sense they continue adding paying content, especially for console players. BTW, we don't know about a new DLC, it may be simply a CCP, probably some african assets.

İlk olarak Stealthy tarafından gönderildi:

They said "as long as people play this and its technically viable, they will keep updating the game"

I just read through those articles from 2015 where this was said, in several of them.

Since you've been reading all these articles from 2015, where is this weird affirmation they'll never do a sequel? Why the hell would they say that at launch?
That they tell potential buyers they'll keep updating their game makes sense. And they did. Now about the reasons for a 2.0, your quote says it all: sales will decline and the core game will age so much it becomes technically more and more difficult to add content. Which is the case.

Their sales may have been boosted thanks to the console market but they'll decline too, just like on PC. Like with any other game, the market is not infinitely extensible. There's always a point where you have to renew it, make people trash the old one and buy a new one. That's how business works.

Now I don't predict anything, Maybe it will be CS2, maybe it won't. But saying that can't be CS2 makes no sense. As for CIM3, I don't buy it for a second.

[Mazisky]

Xcom 1 was acclaimed and got an extensive modding scene, yet Xcom 2 was made.

Civilization 5 was acclaimed and go an extensive modding scene, yet Civilization 6 was made and it outsold any previous civilization game.

Crusader Kings 2 was acclaimed, full of dlc and mods, yet Crusader Kings 3 was made.


So the argument "game is full of mods and DLC not worth a sequel" fails miserably.

Why Paradox made Victoria 3 and Crusader Kings 3 when they could have kept adding DLCs to Vic 2 and CK2?

The same logic apply here

[Stealthy]

İlk olarak Mazisky tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak Stealthy tarafından gönderildi:

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/12m-sales-and-counting-whats-behind-cities-skylines-building-success

That's from last summer. See the last 3-4 paragraphs. Work with C:S continues, which also clearly says no to sequel. And considering everything else, including the fact that there is no technical or commercial reason for the sequel, it is safe to say it won't be their next title.

Last summer also Paradox said that Cities Skylines is closer to the end of its lifecycle than the beginning, which means the game won't be supported for much longer.

Not to mention a new Cities in Motion would compete with an already well established franchise (Transport Fever) while Cities Skylines won't have any competition.

Another reason to push for CS.

Of course it is. It is 8 years old. But it can still have 3-4 years left on support. Still closer to end than the beginning.

Well, their CEO Mariina Hallikainen has said that CO would like to do something new with CIM franchise and that they had exiting new ideas for the next game. None of their communication indicates towards a sequel.

[Stealthy]

İlk olarak BoraBora tarafından gönderildi:

Since you've been reading all these articles from 2015, where is this weird affirmation they'll never do a sequel? Why the hell would they say that at launch?
That they tell potential buyers they'll keep updating their game makes sense. And they did. Now about the reasons for a 2.0, your quote says it all: sales will decline and the core game will age so much it becomes technically more and more difficult to add content. Which is the case.

I'm not seriously looking for it though, those were just some articles that popped up. If I remember right, it was here where they said "Sequel will not happen, OR at least it won't be our next release"

So they never said never, but they clearly said it won't be their next release. Which does make sense in every way and there is still life left on this title so they are not in a rush.

Their sales may have been boosted thanks to the console market but they'll decline too, just like on PC. Like with any other game, the market is not infinitely extensible. There's always a point where you have to renew it, make people trash the old one and buy a new one. That's how business works.

Now I don't predict anything, Maybe it will be CS2, maybe it won't. But saying that can't be CS2 makes no sense. As for CIM3, I don't buy it for a second.

I know how business works, I also know that business works with a road map that sets targets and allocates resources to get to those targets. These are typically made for 5 year minimum. Hence after C:S launch, they had to postpone some of their development work on the new title due to DLC demand, but later on have added resources to get back on track. After commitment and limited resources are shared and allocated, you don't go changing the plan big time.

I personally would love to have a new version as I don't care about mods or no mods or having to buy DLC again. But nothing in any communication or business logic and planning indicates that this announcement will be a C:S 2.

[BoraBora]

İlk olarak Stealthy tarafından gönderildi:

I'm not seriously looking for it though, those were just some articles that popped up. If I remember right, it was here where they said "Sequel will not happen, OR at least it won't be our next release"

So they never said never, but they clearly said it won't be their next release. Which does make sense in every way and there is still life left on this title so they are not in a rush.

Even if Marina told this at day 1 like you remember (and I don't) it was 8 years ago, when they had no idea how successful CS would be. They were still a tiny studio with 2 moderatly selling games behind them. 2 years later, they had a best-selling game, a huge cash-flow and lots of employees, some of them hired among the CS modders. 2 years later was... well, 6 years ago. Ample time to develop a sequel. Let's remind their resumé:

2011: CIM
2013: CIM2
2015: SC

Another thing about business: scheduling of releases, which in this case is controlled by Paradox, is not akin to development times for the studio. Just like some music artists could and sometimes would like to release a new album every 6 months but are prevented by their label. It's all about "how much can we still sell of the old compared to the new?". For all we know, CS2 may have been ready since last year.

[Jamoosh]

Flames for the fire:

A few of the best CS modders have been silent or have disappeared as of late.
Some CS modders are also Colossal Order employees.
Coincidence?

I also found this regarding the announcement: "Confirmed as part of the reveals are content for both Crusader Kings III and Europa Universalis IV. As far as the new games are concerned, Paradox Interactive says the title from Paradox Tectonic is “ground-breaking” while the new game from Colossal Order will be “incredible”."

So, there are three new games from three different Paradox studios, Colossal Order being one them. And two of the four games getting expansions have been revealed. Perhaps CS2 is the new game from Colossal Order or perhaps CS is in line for an expansion (DLC)? We will find out Monday.

I have also read several articles predicting that if CS2 is not announced, the disappointment could affect sales of the new Colossal Order title or additional CS DLCs.

[Stealthy]

DLC is coming for sure. SteamDB lists the packages already.

[Stealthy]

There is also the fact to consider that Paradox may have "forced" CO to do the sequel even if the CO didn't want to do it as their next title. Contractually that isn't impossible at all.

[Preacher]

İlk olarak Mazisky tarafından gönderildi:

Xcom 1 was acclaimed and got an extensive modding scene, yet Xcom 2 was made.

Civilization 5 was acclaimed and go an extensive modding scene, yet Civilization 6 was made and it outsold any previous civilization game.

Crusader Kings 2 was acclaimed, full of dlc and mods, yet Crusader Kings 3 was made.


So the argument "game is full of mods and DLC not worth a sequel" fails miserably.

Why Paradox made Victoria 3 and Crusader Kings 3 when they could have kept adding DLCs to Vic 2 and CK2?

The same logic apply here

Ironically every single one of those sequels (except XCOM 2, i have no knowlegde on that) are dumpster fires, mere shells of what their prequels were.