Cities: Skylines II Receives Major “Economy .” Update, Addressing Launch Issues and Overhauling Core Gameplay Systems
Well, folks, it looks like Colossal Order has been burning the midnight oil! After a, shall we say, *rocky* launch back in late October , the much-anticipated city builder, Cities: Skylines II, is back with a vengeance. The new “Economy .” update promises to be a game-changer, tackling those pesky launch-day woes and giving the core gameplay systems a much-needed facelift.
Remember those, uh, “spirited” discussions on the forums about the game feeling a tad unpolished? And who could forget the whole kerfuffle with that premium DLC drop in spring that left some players feeling like they were sold a bridge they already owned? Yeah, Colossal Order heard you… probably while frantically shovelling lines of code into the game engine.
The devs promised to hit the pause button on any new DLC shenanigans and focus on whipping the base game into shape, and it seems like they’re actually following through. Patch .f is a big ol’ step in the right direction, showing that Colossal Order is serious about making things right with their dedicated (and often brutally honest) fanbase.
The Nitty-Gritty: What’s New in “Economy .”?
Hold onto your hard hats, mayors, ‘cause this ain’t just some cosmetic touch-up. We’re talking about a full-blown economic overhaul designed to make your mayoral duties a lot more…let’s go with “engaging” (read: challenging).
Overhauled Economic Systems: Time to Actually Balance a Budget
Remember those blissful days when you could just slap down a bunch of residential zones and rake in the cash? Well, kiss those days goodbye (and maybe invest in some tissues for the nostalgia tears). The new economic systems are all about injecting a dose of realism (and probably a touch of masochism) into Cities: Skylines II.
Colossal Order is keeping the exact details under wraps for now, but they’ve teased some juicy tidbits:
- Money, Money, Money: Get ready for a complete revamp of how money flows through your city. Think intricate webs of interconnected systems instead of the simplified cash-flow of yore.
- Trash Talk: Gone are the days of magically disappearing garbage. Solid waste management is getting a serious upgrade, factoring in everything from population density to, well, the dietary habits of your citizens (we’re looking at you, chili cheese fry enthusiasts).
- Bills, Bills, Bills: Electricity imports and water service fees are getting a price hike because, you know, inflation is a real thing, even in the digital world.
- Subsidies: Friend or Foe?: Government subsidies are getting rebalanced to align with the new economic model. Time to dust off those spreadsheets and channel your inner economist!
Solid Waste Management: One Mayor’s Trash is Another Sim’s…Well, Still Trash
Okay, let’s talk garbage. Specifically, the mountains of it that used to vanish into thin air in the pre-. world. Now, your city’s waste management system will have to contend with the, shall we say, *diverse* output of your city’s residents.
Students, prisoners, commuters, the gloriously carefree homeless population – they all produce waste with unique…characteristics. That’s right, your city’s sanitation workers are about to get a whole lot more familiar with the concept of job satisfaction (or lack thereof).
City Service Costs: Everything Costs Money!
Remember when you could just crank up those electricity imports and keep the city lights blazing without a care in the world? Yeah, those days are over. Brace yourselves for:
- Increased Electricity Import Costs: Because even virtual power plants have to deal with the real world’s energy crisis.
- Adjusted Water Service Fees: Water doesn’t magically flow from the tap, people!
Basically, get ready to make some tough choices, mayors. Will you invest in renewable energy sources or pass the cost onto your (already heavily taxed) citizens? It’s all part of the delicate balancing act that is city management.
Government Subsidies: A Helping Hand, But at What Cost?
Ah, government subsidies, those sweet, sweet injections of cash that can make or break a struggling city. In “Economy .”, they’re still around, but like that friend who always “forgets” their wallet, their generosity has limits.
Colossal Order is staying tight-lipped about the specifics, but the word on the street (read: Reddit) is that subsidies will be more targeted and less…shall we say…abundant. Think strategic boosts for specific industries or social programs rather than blank checks for your latest architectural folly.
Building Upgrades: It’s All About the Little Things (Sort Of)
While the economic overhaul is the star of the show, “Economy .” also sneaks in some nifty quality-of-life improvements for us budding city planners.
Sub-building Options: Customization is King (or Queen, We Don’t Judge)
Remember when you were stuck with those clunky, pre-built city service buildings? Well, those days are gone, baby, gone! With the new sub-building options, you can finally unleash your inner micromanager and customize those essential services to your heart’s content.
Need more capacity at your water treatment plant? Just tack on another filtration module! Wish your power plant didn’t look like it was designed by a committee of pigeons? Swap out those ugly cooling towers for something a little more…aerodynamic.
And the best part? You can relocate, remove, or toggle those sub-buildings on and off like a boss. Just try not to get too carried away with the power…
Modding & Performance: Listen Up, Modders (and Everyone with a Computer)
No Cities: Skylines update would be complete without a nod to the modding community, those digital deities who keep the game fresh and exciting (and sometimes terrifyingly realistic).
Various Modding Improvements: Modders, Assemble!
Colossal Order knows that many of you are basically digital architects, crafting intricate mods that make the vanilla game look like a child’s drawing. “Economy .” brings a whole bunch of under-the-hood changes specifically designed to make the modders’ lives easier (and by extension, our cities even more awesome).
We won’t bore you with the technical jargon here; you can find all the juicy details in the full patch notes (you know you want to). Just know that the modding scene is about to get a whole lot more…interesting.
Performance Enhancements: Less Lag, More City Building
Let’s be real, Cities: Skylines II at launch was a bit of a resource hog. Even those with top-of-the-line gaming rigs experienced the dreaded frame-rate drop when their cities reached a certain size (we’re not judging, we’ve all been there).
“Economy .” promises to address those performance woes, optimizing the game engine and squashing bugs like they’re going out of style. The result? Smoother gameplay, faster loading times, and more time actually building your dream metropolis instead of watching loading screens.
Overall Impact: A New Lease on Life for Cities: Skylines II?
So, the big question is: Does “Economy .” live up to the hype? While it’s still early (the update just dropped, people!), early impressions are overwhelmingly positive.
Players are praising the depth and complexity of the new economic systems, the expanded customization options, and the much-needed performance boost. It seems like Colossal Order has been listening to its community (for once!), addressing many of the criticisms leveled at the game since its launch.
Of course, only time will tell if “Economy .” is enough to cement Cities: Skylines II’s place as the city-building game to beat. But for now, one thing is clear: Colossal Order is committed to delivering on its promises and creating a truly engaging and rewarding urban planning experience.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a city to rebuild…and a budget to balance.