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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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We were told it would be "soon" after release. This is not soon.

"but we don’t have a concrete timeline yet as we don’t want to make promises we can’t keep"
What a slap in the face. What an insulting thing to say after the dreadful release full of broken promises.
 
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Why are we so preoccupied with a map editor when there are clearly more urgent issues that the Colossal Order team should be prioritizing at this moment? Our current "word of the week" doesn't mention a single bug fix or quality of life improvement—seriously?

As a devoted fan of Cities Skylines 1, I find myself deeply disappointed and frustrated.
 
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"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!"

I have defended the game quite a bit as I have not had any issues performance wise, or any of the crazy bugs. But this is disappointing. You are telling us, that it is going to be another "couple of months" before we can even make our own maps? This is frustrating, as none of the maps currently available are spectacular. I expect you are going to see a massive drop off in concurrent players over the next "couple months". People paid 50$ Plus dollars for this game... People work hard for their money, and now you are telling us, that not only that there will be NO mods, NO assets, but we can't even privately create our own maps....to at least keep the game fresh? This is a massive failure from CO. Might as well not even give us a "word of the week" if it's going to be just announcing further delays to systems that should of by all rights, been available from the get-go. Especially for a 50$ not early access game. I personally can live without the mods and assets for now....but the maps currently available SUCK. I do not enjoy any of them. Very disappointing. Not Cool.
 
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We were told it would be "soon" after release. This is not soon.

"but we don’t have a concrete timeline yet as we don’t want to make promises we can’t keep"
What a slap in the face. What an insulting thing to say after the dreadful release full of broken promises.

I can live without mods/assets for now.... but not having a map editor is massively disappointing. It's downright insulting to the people that paid for this game expecting at the very least a map editor. I want them to take time with mods, so that they don't break game with every update....but maps.... the maps currently in game are terrible, and this is going to force me to put the game down for a while. How massively disappointing after waiting for a long time for this game.
 
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I would probably, Release the editor as an Opt-in beta so we can get Tinkering with it using the steam beta branch That way if people want to take the risk they can without modding the code files. This would also give us the option for us that care to help flush out bugs related to the editor. I personally Love making maps and secretly hope that a google maps import would be built in at some point but that just me hoping.
 
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I can live without mods/assets for now.... but not having a map editor is massively disappointing. It's downright insulting to the people that paid for this game expecting at the very least a map editor. I want them to take time with mods, so that they don't break game with every update....but maps.... the maps currently in game are terrible, and this is going to force me to put the game down for a while. How massively disappointing after waiting for a long time for this game.

Agreed. I've been playing on pretty much the same map all the time. All others are disappointing to say the least OR limited by factors like hemisphere or weather. Wouldn't be so bad if we could at least change that. Some maps would be ok if I wasn't forced into snow in July or white-screen filled snow for months.
 
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On one of the FAQ's it stated the following:
What do you mean with "the modding is in beta"? You guys said the following:

It means that we have a small group of modders testing the tools out in a closed beta before it's released publicly (which will happen soon!).

If the editor is months away, why didn't you tell us before we bought the game, because months away is not the same as "soon"
 
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suggested tri counts etc.
Unless your asset creations have individual teeth and clothespins, you’ll be way ahead of the base game on tri count management.
 
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I can live without mods/assets for now.... but not having a map editor is massively disappointing. It's downright insulting to the people that paid for this game expecting at the very least a map editor. I want them to take time with mods, so that they don't break game with every update....but maps.... the maps currently in game are terrible, and this is going to force me to put the game down for a while. How massively disappointing after waiting for a long time for this game.
Iv been playing with it there is a guide on how to enable it, I personally think it's in a state that it could be launched as a opt in beta.
 
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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.
I agree, although understand the dev team may switch to a slower release cycle to minimize bugs from agile releases, esp if they are moving into gameplay tweaks. Performance is generally very playable as long as you concede on a few key settings. By no means am I saying optimizing isn't important just because I'm personally satisfied but I think it's good enough that it doesnt need to consume nearly all of the attention (not sure whether that is the case or not). I think simulation/management improvements could go a long way to making these first few mod free months more replayable. Currently all my cities feel samey since the management really doesn't change from one city to another since I'm drowning in cash from pretty early on.
 
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CO appears to have taken a significant leap forward, creating a larger, improved, and more modern game with increased resources. They have managed to partially fulfill their promises, but they now face a substantial backlog. It seems they are pushing to release the game on consoles before addressing critical bugs.

Time is not keeping up with the demand, and it's the players who are suffering the most. It's evident that the game should have been postponed, but here we are, with a team prioritizing elements that should have been delivered from the start, rather than addressing the subpar work that was initially delivered.
 
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Welp, looks like my break from CS2 will be longer than expected. But don't worry, I promise I will play again "soon"TM. (several months from now at the earliest, it seems)
 
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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.
Loved your assets in CS1...I used them a ton. Glad to see you're back!
 
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Why are we so preoccupied with a map editor when there are clearly more urgent issues that the Colossal Order team should be prioritizing at this moment? Our current "word of the week" doesn't mention a single bug fix or quality of life improvement—seriously?

As a devoted fan of Cities Skylines 1, I find myself deeply disappointed and frustrated.
+1

But I understand they don't want to launch a mod platform when the base game foundation isn't 100 percent stable and solid, because this will only result to more frustrations down the line when mods stop working when things get fixed and updated.

However quite bizarre we didn't get a glimpse what major gameplay bugs are top priority at the moment. The cargo and post bugs are very severe that everyone encounters in every city at the moment.

But like everyone else is saying the marketing department has been overpromising while development has been underdelivering. This leads to general frustration with the 'core fans' who have been looking forward to the game for years. But I do appreciate that it is clear where things stand at the moment, even if it is bad news, that is still better than no news or setting wrong expectations (like Paradox did).

But I am back to CS1 most of the time until Q2 when things are probably better. I am seeing a lot of content creators already restarting their Skylines 1 coverage series as well.
 
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Agreed. I've been playing on pretty much the same map all the time. All others are disappointing to say the least OR limited by factors like hemisphere or weather. Wouldn't be so bad if we could at least change that. Some maps would be ok if I wasn't forced into snow in July or white-screen filled snow for months.
I love that hemisphere matters, but yes....let us change it up...
 
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The game is still a work in progress, and it might take a few more months before we get to experience the fully polished version that we were hoping for right from the start. Perhaps labeling it as an "early access" title would be a suitable way to describe its current state.

It makes you wonder if the company was facing financial challenges that led to the release of an unfinished game, disguising it as a finished product to secure funding for the busy development team.
 
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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.
They do have some basic information on the wiki:


I know a couple of asset creators who are using this to get started at least.
 
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Man I was at least excited that as rough of a launch CS2 had, we would at least have modders in the "days after release" to pick up the slack. Now that's going to be MONTHS away?

Out of curiosity, how much of this is related to the PDX mods platform itself rather than the game? Because if it's the former, it sounds like those of us who were begging for Steam Workshop support had a valid point.
 
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But I am back to CS1 most of the time until Q2 when things are probably better. I am seeing a lot of content creators already restarting their Skylines 1 coverage series as well.
It makes sense, unfortunately there isn't much to show in CS2 at the moment. At the same time lack of detailing assets and features makes CS2 cities look overall worse than modded CS1 series, they were running.
 
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