Cities: Skylines Developer and Publisher Part Ways
▼ Summary
– Cities: Skylines developer Colossal Order is being replaced by Finnish studio Iceflake, a subsidiary of publisher Paradox Interactive.
– The decision was mutually agreed upon by both companies to ensure the franchise’s strongest future, though specific reasons weren’t provided.
– Colossal Order will now focus on new projects and creative opportunities separate from the Cities franchise.
– Iceflake, acquired by Paradox in 2020, will take over Cities: Skylines II development including updates, expansions, and content packs starting in 2026.
– Iceflake will also handle the delayed console ports for Cities: Skylines II, which were originally scheduled for 2023 alongside the PC release.
The landscape of urban simulation gaming is undergoing a significant transformation as the Cities: Skylines franchise transitions from its original developer, Colossal Order, to a new home at Iceflake Studios, a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive. This unexpected change, announced via Paradox’s official forums, marks the end of a long-standing partnership that began when Colossal Order stepped in to fill the void left by EA’s SimCity series.
According to the announcement, the developer and publisher reached a mutual agreement to “pursue independent paths,” a decision described as thoughtful and made in the interest of securing the strongest possible future for the Cities: Skylines brand. While specific reasons for the split were not detailed, the statement emphasized that both companies remain appreciative of their shared history and grateful to the dedicated community of players. Colossal Order is now set to focus on new projects and explore fresh creative opportunities beyond the city-building series.
Taking over development duties is Iceflake Studios, a Finnish developer acquired by Paradox in 2020. The studio is best known for its post-apocalyptic survival and strategy title, Surviving the Aftermath, which has maintained a loyal player base on Steam through consistent updates and downloadable content. Iceflake’s recent work has primarily centered on supporting and expanding that game, but the team is now shifting its full attention to the Cities universe.
![Image: A developer working on a computer screen showing city-building game assets]
Paradox confirmed that Iceflake is already deeply immersed in the technical details of Cities: Skylines II and will assume full responsibility for all future free updates, expansions, and content packs starting in 2026. Additionally, the studio will take charge of completing the long-awaited console versions of Skylines II, which were originally scheduled to launch simultaneously with the PC edition back in 2023 but have since been delayed. This handover ensures the franchise will continue to evolve under new stewardship while its original creators embark on separate ventures.
(Source: Ars Technica)
