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CO Word of the Week #3

Last week I promised to give you an update on where we are with the modding of Cities: Skylines II. The Editor is in the works and we shared an updated version of it with the closed Modding Beta group for a feedback round just last Friday. The Editor currently includes only maps and support for code modding and we’re looking forward to getting those ready for an initial release. I’m calling it an initial release as we will be adding to the modding tools throughout the game's lifetime, just like we did with Cities: Skylines.

We do not have the asset import feature available yet, so the creators are currently unable to import their own assets into the game. After we have the import feature in place we’ll be running it through the Modding Beta group. When the asset part of the Editor is ready, we’ll have the Paradox Mods nicely populated with the Region pack assets that the asset creators have been working on. The assets are looking amazing, and I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun choosing the ones most fitting to your cities! If you haven’t already, check out the Region Pack teaser here:


Our goal is to release the Editor as soon as possible, and we will keep you updated on the progress. We expect it will take a couple of months to get the Editor in a shape where we can release it, but we don’t have a concrete timeline yet as we don’t want to make promises we can’t keep. Once the Editor is out we will continue to work on it with your feedback and suggestions to help us prioritize the most wanted features and improvements. We’re very much looking forward to seeing your creations and mods too!

As an update on console, the game will have all the intended Editor features in place when the console versions are released, so you’ll be able to catch up to the PC players in no time. The Editor on console will be on par with the PC version in all but two features: code modding and asset importing as these are not possible within the console restrictions. However, you will be able to download user-created assets from Paradox Mods and create custom maps! The performance improvements we are currently working on also benefit the console version, and we’re actively working on the console versions so they will be ready for you in the first half of 2024.

In the last three weeks, we’ve had a very quick pace with the patches. There is one more of those landing soon, but after that, we’ll be focusing on bigger fixes that take longer to work on. The team is now focusing on LODs and improving GPU performances, and while geometric LODs are largely automated, there are a ton of tweaks and adjustments required. We are expecting a relevant performance boost with these asset fixes. The workload is significant and unfortunately, there is no silver bullet to improve the performance at once, instead, it requires several tasks completed before we are happy with it. This results in less frequent updates so we won’t have weekly patches going forward. Please check the future Word of the Weeks for more information, as I plan to keep writing one every week until further notice.

Before I go, here’s a link to last week’s patch notes if you want to check what it brought! Thanks to everyone who reported an issue and gave feedback. Your effort is most appreciated!

Sincerely,
Mariina
 
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Like others here, I appreciate the transparency following the game's release, but I wish you had made it clear BEFORE release that mods wouldn't be available for some time. Honestly, I love what this game has the potential to become in the future, but as it stands, it lacks content. Without the mods, it feels somewhat dull.
 
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Last week we released a patch to address some of the gameplay issues you have reported, and we're investigating several others as we're working our way through the issues that have been brought to our attention.
I hope the post sorting issue is high on the priority list

 
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Last week I promised to give you an update on where we are with the modding of Cities: Skylines II. The Editor is in the works and we shared an updated version of it with the closed Modding Beta group for a feedback round just last Friday. The Editor currently includes only maps and support for code modding and we’re looking forward to getting those ready for an initial release. I’m calling it an initial release as we will be adding to the modding tools throughout the game's lifetime, just like we did with Cities: Skylines.

We do not have the asset import feature available yet, so the creators are currently unable to import their own assets into the game. After we have the import feature in place we’ll be running it through the Modding Beta group. When the asset part of the Editor is ready, we’ll have the Paradox Mods nicely populated with the Region pack assets that the asset creators have been working on. The assets are looking amazing, and I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun choosing the ones most fitting to your cities! If you haven’t already, check out the Region Pack teaser here:


Our goal is to release the Editor as soon as possible, and we will keep you updated on the progress. We expect it will take a couple of months to get the Editor in a shape where we can release it, but we don’t have a concrete timeline yet as we don’t want to make promises we can’t keep. Once the Editor is out we will continue to work on it with your feedback and suggestions to help us prioritize the most wanted features and improvements. We’re very much looking forward to seeing your creations and mods too!

As an update on console, the game will have all the intended Editor features in place when the console versions are released, so you’ll be able to catch up to the PC players in no time. The Editor on console will be on par with the PC version in all but two features: code modding and asset importing as these are not possible within the console restrictions. However, you will be able to download user-created assets from Paradox Mods and create custom maps! The performance improvements we are currently working on also benefit the console version, and we’re actively working on the console versions so they will be ready for you in the first half of 2024.

In the last three weeks, we’ve had a very quick pace with the patches. There is one more of those landing soon, but after that, we’ll be focusing on bigger fixes that take longer to work on. The team is now focusing on LODs and improving GPU performances, and while geometric LODs are largely automated, there are a ton of tweaks and adjustments required. We are expecting a relevant performance boost with these asset fixes. The workload is significant and unfortunately, there is no silver bullet to improve the performance at once, instead, it requires several tasks completed before we are happy with it. This results in less frequent updates so we won’t have weekly patches going forward. Please check the future Word of the Weeks for more information, as I plan to keep writing one every week until further notice.

Before I go, here’s a link to last week’s patch notes if you want to check what it brought! Thanks to everyone who reported an issue and gave feedback. Your effort is most appreciated!

Sincerely,
Mariina
How are Free Region packs tied to the Editor? So we won't be getting those for at least another two months? Why tease us with the trailer saying "coming soon" 3 months prior then? Damage control?

I get that things are getting delayed because of all the fixes and issues but I don't think it needs to be said that this Editor should've been part of the initial release.
 
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Am I the only one remembering hearing that the first part of the editor would be released soon after the game, as in, days after the release? And now it's suddenly months? :/ Or am I making something up?
 
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How are Free Region packs tied to the Editor? So we won't be getting those for at least another two months? Why tease us with the trailer saying "coming soon" 3 months prior then? Damage control?

I get that things are getting delayed because of all the fixes and issues but I don't think it needs to be said that this Editor should've been part of the initial release.
Most games never have an official mod editor, you know.
 
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What a disappointment, instead of days after initial release we have to wait months. Maybe you could let the asset creators use the beta version for asset import so we can benefit from more variety and better suitability for your own theme. Because especially these education buildings are unusable for an European town.
 
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In the last three weeks, we’ve had a very quick pace with the patches. There is one more of those landing soon, but after that, we’ll be focusing on bigger fixes that take longer to work on.

This makes me nervous. The weekly patches have been great but they’re fixing a handful of minor things in each one. There are far more than just a handful of minor bugs left to be fixed. Unless this week’s patch includes about 5 times the amount of bug fixes as the previous ones, I’m not looking forward to a slower release cadence.
 
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Am I the only one remembering hearing that the first part of the editor would be released soon after the game, as in, days after the release? And now it's suddenly months? :/ Or am I making something up?
I've been poking about some older dev diaries and the statements I saw all very carefully avoided saying anything about any release time-frame.

Personally this makes me muse on the overreliance on developers in terms of modding. "Back in the ancient days" a mod specifically was something you did to the game independently of the tools provided to you. If there was an ingame editor of some kind, that often wasn't considered a mod at all, since, after all, it was part of the game's core functionality. If you wanted a mod, you had to do it from the ground up yourself.

I do kinda wonder if C:SL2 is so slow at bringing out an official editor whether people won't start doing their own thing anyway, possibly splitting the community before it even really starts ...

Eh. Whatever. Like others have said; at least those of us waiting now it's not worth thinking about for another few "months" at least.
 
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Last week we released a patch to address some of the gameplay issues you have reported, and we're investigating several others as we're working our way through the issues that have been brought to our attention.
And you couldn’t test the game before you released it? Why are there so many bugs that we had to find for you?
 
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Months before we have basic mod functionalities in the game? Very disappointing.

I can understand the bugs and even the performance issues but this was an advertised feature.
 
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Thanks for the update. I love the game so far but I'm really disappointed that it will be months until we finally get an editor. And even after waiting months you are telling me that the editor won't feature asset creation? One month ago the CO’s community manager announced that mods will be available days after release, what happened to that?
 
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Not gonna lie, I'm pretty disappointed. I asked several times when you expected the asset editor to be released and all I got was 'shortly after release' and Maddie was talking about 'days after release' in a livestream, so I took the plunge and pre-ordered the game. I don't really play the game, all I'm interested in is the asset editor so hearing it will now be a 'couple of months' feels like a slap in the face.

I asked before but I'm gonna try again: Is it possible to join the asset editor beta? I'm mainly interested in building and vehicle assets, I made several for CS1 as well in the early days.
 
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Not gonna lie, I'm pretty disappointed.
That's how I generally feel about this release and the state of the game.

I'm not sure how with so many things still work in progress modding could make things better. With more assets I'd fear performance tanking further and changes and fixes for the game would likely break with every patch. It's just not a good situation.
 
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Not gonna lie, I'm pretty disappointed. I asked several times when you expected the asset editor to be released and all I got was 'shortly after release' and Maddie was talking about 'days after release' in a livestream, so I took the plunge and pre-ordered the game. I don't really play the game, all I'm interested in is the asset editor so hearing it will now be a 'couple of months' feels like a slap in the face.

I asked before but I'm gonna try again: Is it possible to join the asset editor beta? I'm mainly interested in building and vehicle assets, I made several for CS1 as well in the early days.
Yeah I too would like the chance to join the beta. I have been wanting to start making some models but its difficult without any kind of information at all on suggested tri counts etc. Also on a slightly more selfish note, modding is pretty competitive. Its great that some assets will release with the modding tools as the game really needs them and will benefit the majority of players, but those mods will have a big advantage over other people wanting to make assets for the game.
 
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I'm concerned that there may be an overemphasis on performance improvements while neglecting the resolution of gameplay bugs. Please continue with the weekly patches, but ensure that addressing gameplay issues remains a priority.
 
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In the last three weeks, we’ve had a very quick pace with the patches.

With more than 300 confirmed bugs and this slow pace, as I see it as a paying consumer, it will be more then 6 months before the game is fixed and with new bugs being discovered daily it will probably take much longer. Very disappointed that the game was released in this state, and it will certainly be a factor to consider when purchasing other titles/content from Paradox going forward.
 
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This makes me nervous. The weekly patches have been great but they’re fixing a handful of minor things in each one. There are far more than just a handful of minor bugs left to be fixed. Unless this week’s patch includes about 5 times the amount of bug fixes as the previous ones, I’m not looking forward to a slower release cadence.
What can you really do? Those hotfixes released on a weekly cadence are the easier bugs on the bugfix TODO list.

The rest of the bugs require more than 1 week to fix, and they need more time.

I don't mind the longer wait times between each patch, but I do appreciate having releases with a fixed schedule cadence. Something like bi-weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly, are all fine with me.
 
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The perception is that CO is prioritizing console releases to maximize profits, resulting in a strong emphasis on performance improvements. However, they seem to be overlooking the importance of quality of life enhancements and bug fixes. It's concerning that there might be upcoming DLC announcements aimed at addressing issues present in the base game. The focus appears to be on a map editor, while we have serious bugs and improvements that require attention. Is the entire priority solely centered around commercial interests? Players deserve weekly patches for bug fixes and quality of life improvements; after all, we paid for a complete game, not an early access version.
 
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Am I the only one remembering hearing that the first part of the editor would be released soon after the game, as in, days after the release? And now it's suddenly months? :/ Or am I making something up?

We really need this to be addressed directly. There's a big disconnect between "Days" and 1/4 of a year. I feel mislead at the least, lied to at worst. I've been hoping for mods to smooth the rough edges because honestly I can't play the game in its current state for 3 more months
 
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