The release of Cities: Skylines II has faced delays and changes to its PC specifications. The console version of the game has been pushed back to spring 2024, while the PC version is still scheduled for release on October 24, 2023. Pre-orders for the console version have been halted, and refunds will be issued to those who had pre-ordered on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S. The minimum and recommended PC specs have also been adjusted, with a more demanding AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor now recommended, and an upgrade to the minimum graphics card requirement. These changes come as the game is revealed to be larger and more optimization-intensive than initially anticipated.
The decision to delay the console release and update the PC specifications is attributed to the game’s increased size and optimization requirements. The developers, Colossal Order, stated that Cities: Skylines II is a next-generation title with specific hardware requirements. Extensive testing with different hardware prompted the decision to update the minimum and recommended specs to enhance the player experience. These adjustments reflect the challenges faced by PC games in general, as the variety of PC setups often leads to compatibility issues with ambitious titles. By adjusting the specifications, Colossal Order aims to ensure a smoother gameplay experience.
The development of Cities: Skylines II also highlights the difficulties in achieving parity between different consoles. Microsoft’s requirement for games to launch with the same features on both Xbox Series X and Series S has caused delays and dropped features. Colossal Order’s decision to delay the console release may be an attempt to navigate these challenges and avoid any complications arising from hardware disparities. While Microsoft recently allowed some flexibility for specific cases, the overall requirement for feature parity remains in place. Further details regarding the changes to Cities: Skylines II can be found in the developer’s FAQ, addressing concerns and providing clarification to eager fans.