According to GameSpot, publisher Paradox Interactive and developer Colossal Order have mutually decided to split, with the entire Cities: Skylines franchise moving to Paradox’s internal studio Iceflake. The transition will begin in early 2026, with Colossal Order delivering a few more updates including bikes, Old Town buildings, and a beta version of the game’s editor with mod-asset support before year’s end. Iceflake Studio manager Lasse Liljedahl called taking over the franchise “an immense honor and a great responsibility,” while Colossal Order’s Mariina Hallikainen expressed confidence the franchise would “continue to thrive under Paradox’s leadership.” The announcement comes as Cities: Skylines 2 maintains a “Mixed” user review rating on Steam, a stark contrast to the original game’s “Very Positive” reception.
Why This Feels Familiar
Look, developer changes happen in gaming. But this one feels particularly significant given the context. Cities: Skylines 2 launched in October 2023 with Paradox actually warning players about performance issues beforehand. That’s never a good sign. The game struggled to hit stable frame rates, Colossal Order had to make DLC free as an apology, and now we’re seeing a complete handoff of the entire franchise.
Here’s the thing: when a developer and publisher “mutually decide to pursue independent paths,” that’s corporate speak for “this isn’t working out.” The forum post doesn’t specify why they’re splitting, but the timing speaks volumes. You don’t move your flagship city-building franchise to a new developer unless there are serious underlying issues.
Can Iceflake Actually Pull This Off?
Iceflake does have city-building experience with Surviving the Aftermath, but that’s a very different game from the complex simulation that Cities: Skylines represents. Taking over an established franchise with millions of passionate players? That’s a massive challenge.
And let’s be real – the community is already skeptical after Cities: Skylines 2’s launch. The current Steam reviews tell the story. Iceflake needs to not just fix performance issues but win back player trust. They’re promising to share their development plans in coming weeks, but after the rocky launch, the community will likely wait to see actual results rather than more promises.
What This Means For Players
The immediate good news is we’re getting bikes and mod support before the handoff. But long-term? A developer change this significant usually means one of two things: either the game gets the fresh perspective it desperately needs, or we see the franchise drift in a completely different direction.
Colossal Order says they’re excited to work on “new projects that align with our long-term vision.” Meanwhile, Iceflake inherits a game that’s currently sitting at “Mixed” reviews compared to the original Cities: Skylines’ “Very Positive” rating. Basically, they’ve got their work cut out for them.
The real test will be whether Iceflake can deliver on the console versions that have been “long-delayed” and actually optimize the PC version to where it should have been at launch. If they can’t, this franchise that started so strong might never recover its reputation.
