Here’s everything we know about Cities Skylines 2, including the confirmed release date window, trailers, gameplay, and more.
Cities Skylines 2 release date window & platforms
The exact release date of Cities Skylines 2 has yet to be revealed, but a release window of 2023 was confirmed in the reveal trailer. We also know from the trailer that Cities Skylines 2 will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
Trailers
One and only one trailer has been shown so far. While there is no actual gameplay in the announcement trailer, we do get a better idea of what to expect from the second installment of Cities Skylines thanks to the strong voiceover and animated structures.
Cities Skylines 2 appears to be carefully imitating the dynamics of real cities, much like the original, while also allowing players to customize the landscape as much as possible.
Notably, the trailer features a lot of unique pedestrians living independent lives and offers the line ‘this city has a story’. A jogger, a city worker, a busy back alley, and a person scrolling through their phone are all visible in one panning shot. Colossal Order appears to want players to feel as if their cities are lived in, and the sequel may focus on developing that aspect of the experience.
Gameplay
There hasn’t been much news about Cities Skylines 2 gameplay as of yet. However, a list of Cities Skylines 2 Xbox achievements has surfaced, providing valuable insight into what might be possible for players.
Notably, some achievements mention the impact of seasonal weather, and others reward destructive results. Tornadoes, meteors, and even rat infestations appear to be among the many ways players can be punished as they expand higher and further. It’s unclear whether these are random occurrences or the result of criteria being met. The original Cities Skylines allowed players to turn off random disasters; hopefully, the sequel will do the same. The ‘Snapshot’ achievement also implies that the sequel will include a dedicated photo mode, which is ideal for those who want to share their work.
‘Go Anywhere,’ another significant achievement, rewards having 20 active transport lines. The original Cities Skylines provided players a wide variety of transport options to lay in the city, including buses, metro tunnels, and cargo ships, among others. This achievement supports the idea that the sequel will include a plethora of transportation options for players to experiment with. The ‘I Made This’ achievement appears to imply that the game will include an editor where players can create assets.
Citizens, on the other hand, have a lot of hoops to jump through. There are achievements related to city policies and happiness, as well as educational prowess. To achieve ‘Top of the Class,’ players must have a population of 20% with a university education. ‘You Little Stalker!’ is also an achievement that rewards players who keep track of a citizen from childhood to old age. Creepy!
The announcement trailer featured a lot of NPCs, so it’s safe to assume there will be some emphasis on them in this new release. More information on Cities Skylines 2 is expected to be released in the coming months.
So far, that’s all we know about Cities Skylines 2.
