Paradox Interactive and Cities: Skylines developer Colossal Order have “mutually determined to pursue impartial paths,” with improvement of the city-builder collection switching to Iceflake Studios.
An update posted on the Cities: Skylines II discussion board stated that “the choice was made thoughtfully and within the curiosity of each groups – guaranteeing the strongest potential future for the Cities: Skylines franchise.”
Mariina Hallikainen, CEO of Colossal Order, stated: “For over fifteen years, the Cities Sequence and our partnership with Paradox have been a defining a part of our journey at Colossal Order. After we set out to create Cities in Movement, we by no means imagined it could develop to grow to be a cherished franchise with a passionate, loyal group of thousands and thousands of gamers world wide.
“We would like to thank everybody at Paradox for his or her belief and collaboration, and naturally the group for the unbelievable help that has made Cities what it’s right now. We’re assured that the franchise will proceed to thrive beneath Paradox’s management. As we transfer ahead, we’re excited to channel our expertise, creativity, and keenness into new initiatives that align with our long-term imaginative and prescient.”
Mattias Lilja, Deputy CEO of Paradox Interactive, praised the achievements of the Finnish developer: “Our partnership with Colossal Order is likely one of the longest-running relationships we have loved right here at Paradox. 4 video games, dozens of expansions, and a group of thousands and thousands of Cities gamers; it is exceptional how a lot we have achieved collectively.
“We have now deep respect for the Colossal Order staff and we glance ahead to seeing the place they go from right here. On our finish, we’re keen to proceed working for the passionate Cities: Skylines group and ensure to present them with extra content material and new experiences.”
The Cities franchise will now be developed by Iceflake Studios, an inner recreation studio owned by Paradox. Like Colossal Order, Iceflake Studios relies in Tampere in Finland.
Lasse Liljedahl, Studio Supervisor of Iceflake Studios, stated: “Taking the reins on a genre-leading franchise like Cities is an immense honor and an amazing duty. There’s an enormous, loyal group on the market and I would like to say to each member of that group that we’ll humbly carry this legacy with respect, along with all of you.
“Iceflake has the capability and functionality to get began. We have now a decade price of expertise from making metropolis constructing and administration video games. We see a robust basis and a lot potential ready to be unleashed and I am unable to wait to present you what now we have deliberate for the subsequent chapter of this unbelievable recreation.”
Colossal Order will likely be caring for just a few remaining updates to Cities: Skylines II earlier than ending with the franchise, together with including bikes and making bug fixes. However Iceflake Studios will take over all improvement from the beginning of 2026.
Colossal Order was based in 2009 in Tampere, and its first launch was Cities in Movement in 2011. However the studio discovered its greatest success with Cities: Skylines in 2015, which has offered greater than 12 million copies throughout all platforms.
The sport obtained a sequel, Cities: Skylines II, in 2023. The console variations of Cities: Skylines II had been initially meant to launch alongside the PC launch, however have been continuously delayed. In accordance to the FAQ accompanying the brand new announcement, the console editions will now be developed by Iceflake Studios.
As Hallikainen associated in a fireplace chat with GamesIndustry.biz‘s Lewis Packwood on the DevGAMM Madeira Video games Summit two weeks in the past, Colossal Order struck an uncommon cut price with Paradox on the outset. Somewhat than accepting funding in return for giving Paradox a share of the corporate, as is commonly the case with start-up agency funding, Colossal Order as a substitute gave up the rights to its Cities IP to Paradox. However to today, Colossal Order stays a completely impartial firm.
Primarily, this implies Paradox has final management over what occurs to the Cities franchise, however Colossal Order stays impartial and free to pursue its personal targets.