Is Cities Skylines 2 Emulating The Sims' Controversial Release Strategy?
Cities: Skylines 2 sparks controversy with a content strategy reminiscent of The Sims franchise, suggesting that the game may be holding back significant content for future releases
Highlights
Cities: Skylines 2 falls short in comparison to its predecessor by not including fan-favorite content from DLCs, leading to less satisfying gameplay mechanics.
Cities: Skylines 2, like The Sims series, may disappoint players by withholding content that should have been included from the start, relying instead on expansion packs to unlock them.
Fans who dedicated substantial time to the original game may feel let down by the absence of beloved features such as the park area tool, comprehensive control over building universities, and a variety of radio stations in Cities: Skylines 2.
During its lifespan, Cities: Skylines received numerous DLC packs that expanded the game with new gameplay features and cosmetics, including additional radio stations. As a result, it established itself as one of the top city builders on the market, igniting high anticipation for Cities: Skylines 2. However, with the release of the sequel, players have noticed a sense of regression as it seems to replicate the original game's launch state, rather than building upon its solid foundation. Several beloved content introduced through DLCs is notably absent, leading to mechanics that fall short in comparison to their predecessors. While there is no information on whether or when this content will reappear, it raises concerns that Colossal Order may be following a path similar to The Sims, which many players did not desire.
Cities: Skylines 2 is Seemingly Holding Back Content for Future Releases
Content has generated controversy since The Sims 2 due to Maxis' approach to DLC. Each game includes expansion packs with fresh new content, but also includes some repeated material. Instead of including popular content at launch, Maxis consistently locks it behind expansion packs. This strategy has proven successful, leading the studio to continue with this approach.
Starting from The Sims 2, every game in the Sims series has received a common set of expansions, along with a few new ones. These expansions typically introduce pets, seasonal changes, university life, and city-themed content. In addition, they often offer the opportunity for vacations, supernatural elements, and the ability to achieve fame through various DLC. Furthermore, previous features that were left out in previous Sims games are frequently reintroduced through post-launch expansion packs in future games.
The Sims approach requires players to repurchase content they have been playing with for years, which can be frustrating. Normally, players would expect sequels to enhance the existing content rather than remove it to sell as DLC later. Unfortunately, The Sims does not follow this pattern, and it appears that Cities: Skylines 2 may be doing the same.
Instead of including the various DLCs from Cities: Skylines, Cities: Skylines 2 seems to have reduced the amount of content available. Players no longer have access to the park area tool, the ability to fully create their dream universities, or engaging airports. Additionally, there is no presence of financial districts, and none of the radio stations or content creator packs were carried over. While Cities: Skylines 2 may have improved other aspects of the city simulation, the absence of this content is disappointing for those who dedicated countless hours to the original game.
Colossal Order has yet to announce any upcoming DLC packs for Cities: Skylines 2, but there are likely numerous additions on the horizon. Considering that much of the DLC content from the previous game was left out, there is a strong possibility that new versions of these features will be introduced throughout the post-launch roadmap of the sequel. If this is the case, it will resemble the way The Sims operates, which might provoke controversy among its audience. However, if this opportunity is missed, it would be a significant loss as the content truly deserves to shine. Therefore, it seems that Cities: Skylines 2 might face difficulties in achieving success in this aspect.
Cities: Skylines 2
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Cities: Skylines 2, developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive, takes the solid groundwork laid by its predecessor in 2015. With a focus on realism, this city-building simulation game features a comprehensive economic system and a dynamic world that evolves based on the choices and creativity of the players. It is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, with its release date set for October 24, 2023.
