Cities: Skylines 2 modding support is currently in beta and set for a full deployment soon after the game’s full release. The development team is also targeting improved performance on PC throughout the coming months following concern over a recent raising of recommended PC specifications.
This news comes via a post by the official Cities: Skylines account over on the Paradox Forums. First and foremost, Paradox addressed concerns about the game’s performance:
We’ve noticed the concerns raised about Cities: Skylines II performance, especially after our previous statement with raised minimum and recommended specs. As we’ve always believed in transparency, we’d like to further shed some light on the current state of the build.
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. 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.
While this does raise some concerns about the game’s performance at launch, hopefully the team will be quick to implement improvements and ensure the game’s accessible to a wider audience. It’s good to see them getting out in front of it ahead of time.
Cities: Skylines 2 Modding Update and FAQ
The team also took a moment to update fans on the status of modding tools within the game. The update reads as follows:
We know you have been waiting, and now it’s time to share the latest developments regarding modding in Cities: Skylines II.
First and foremost, our in-game editor is currently in its beta phase and will launch shortly after release. While we look forward to unleashing the power of creative modification to all of you, in preparation, we are collaborating with a talented group of creators working behind the scenes – ensuring you’ll have amazing mods to dive into on the launch of the mods platform.
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. 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.
For console users, this means you will be able to access Asset Mods in the library. Yes, you read that right! We know it is a huge part of the Cities: Skylines experience and we’re beyond excited to introduce a solution that makes mods available to everyone. As with all major updates, we are fully aware of the learning curve it might present, but we’re committed to providing resources to ensure a smooth transition to Paradox Mods.
Long story short, the game will be getting official mod support soon after it launches and will feature an official mod browser. This will streamline the modding process and ensure that the experience for modders is highly supported.
A link at the bottom of the post directed readers to a modding and performance FAQ, which you can see here:
Cities: Skylines 2 Mods and Performance FAQ
- Q: Why are you releasing the game if you have performance issues?
- A: We’ve taken the long-term vision of the project into account and feel that a release now is the right step. Cities: Skylines II presents features a gameplay that we’re very proud of and despite that the game is performance heavy, we believe it will be an experience you’ll truly appreciate.
- Q: Will everyone experience performance issues?
- A: It all depends on your PC configuration. Some will experience issues, some will not. It also depends on how high your graphic settings are compared to your hardware.
- Q: IS there anything I can do if I experience performance issues at launch?
- A: Yes. We have determined a few graphic settings that have minimal impact on the player experience but increase performance significantly. We will provide more details shortly. Should you face any performance issues at launch, these configurations will be our top recommendations!
- Q: What Mod platform will be used for Cities: Skylines II?
- A: We are using Paradox mods for Cities: Skylines II. This is to ensure cross-platform modding compatibility and to provide an integrated in-game experience for our players.
- Q: Will other mod platforms be supported?
- A: No, we won’t support other platforms such as Steam Workshop. We have decided to have Paradox Mods as our platform, as it allows us to have cross-platform modding compatibility. We also wanted mods to be more easily accesible in game, which we are able to do with Paradox Mods.
- Q: What do you mean with “the modding is in beta?”
- A: It means that we have a small group of modders testing the tools out in a closed beta before it’s released publicly (which will happen soon!).
- Q: Will CS1 assets be usable in CS2?
- A: No, mods from Cities: Skylines are not compatible with Cities: Skylines II. It is built on an entirely new codebase and its fidelity is vastly different. As such, it requires its own unique mods. With that said, some of the best mods creators from Cities: Skylines have early access to the sequel and who knows – perhaps they are already working on a new version of your favourite Mod for Cities: Skylines II.
- Q: Will mods be supported on console?
- A: Yes! Asset Mods will be available for Console users. Due to restrictions code mods are not possible on Console.
- Q: When will modding be available to everyone?
- A: Modding is currently in a beta phase and will be available to PC players soon after release. Console users will get access to modding too, and we will share a timeline later on.
- Q: Can I be part of the modding beta?
- A: We do not have an application to become part of our beta group. Our team keeps an eye out for modders who are community leaders and have a history of positive impact on the community. If you do, you might eventually be invited!
That sums up the post. We’ll keep our readers posted on any further updates from the team prior to release.
Cities: Skylines 2 launches on October 24 for PC, with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions slated for Spring 2024.
Source: Paradox Forum
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