Cities Skylines 2 Colossal Order Update – Making the Sequel Better
Cities Skylines 2 had a rough start, leaving many fans, including myself, frustrated with its persistent bugs and flawed mechanics. Despite its potential, the game launched with issues that ruined the joy of city-building its predecessor had created. However, the latest Cities Skylines 2 Colossal Order Update is a step in the right direction, bringing much-needed fixes and improvements that show the developers are possibly listening to us.
The Challenges of Cities Skylines 2 at Launch
So let's talk about the launch which saw Cities Skylines 2 plagued with issues. The citizens seemed impossible to please, complaining about a lack of jobs and education despite having schools, universities, and a well-zoned city. Advanced buildings like airports and power plants were overwhelmed with garbage, even in cities with perfectly optimized trash collection systems.
These problems weren’t just minor annoyances; they made the simulation feel broken. Fans of the original Cities Skylines, including myself, expected more from the sequel. Thankfully, Colossal Order has acknowledged these issues and is working to improve the game.
Key Fixes in the Latest Update
Smarter Citizens and Improved Job-Seeking
The Cities Skylines 2 Colossal Order Update introduces smarter citizen behavior, addressing one of the game’s most frustrating problems. Patch 1.1.12f1 optimizes job-seeking calculations, ensuring citizens find employment more effectively. Players who struggled with mismatched labor markets should see significant improvements in their cities’ functionality.
Garbage Management Overhaul
Another important fix involves the huge amounts of garbage at advanced buildings like the international airport, post-sorting facilities, and wastewater treatment plants, which now generate less waste. Previously, my best-planned garbage systems couldn’t keep up, a feeling shared across many fan forums and leading to constant complaints. With this update, managing garbage feels more balanced and less stressful or time-consuming.
Education System Enhancements
The education system has also received a major boost. Universities and colleges can now accommodate more students, making higher education accessible to more citizens. Additionally, the radio telescope research building can increase interest in education city-wide, encouraging more citizens to pursue degrees and qualify for better jobs. These changes add depth and realism to the game’s education mechanics.
Refining the User Experience
Improved User Interface
The update brings tweaks to the user interface, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Navigating menus feels smoother, and important information is presented more clearly. These small changes significantly enhance the overall experience.
Custom Maps and Mods
For players who enjoy mods, this update fixes an issue with custom maps that include unique climates. Previously, loading a custom map often resulted in missing weather settings. Now, custom climates load correctly, ensuring modders can create fully functional maps.
What’s Next for Cities Skylines 2?
Addressing Hotel Complaints
One remaining issue involves hotels reporting a lack of customers, even when fully booked. Colossal Order has acknowledged this bug and is actively working on a solution. Fixing this will further improve the game’s simulation accuracy and player satisfaction.
Continued Updates
More than a year after its release, Cities Skylines 2 still isn’t the game many hoped for. However, the incremental improvements from updates like this show promise. Colossal Order is steadily refining the game, and given more time, it could become the city-building masterpiece fans expected.
The Road to Redemption
A Welcome Turnaround
The Cities Skylines 2 Colossal Order Update demonstrates the developers’ commitment to improving the game. While there’s still work to be done, these changes address many of the core frustrations players faced at launch. Smarter citizens, better garbage management, and enhanced education mechanics make the game more enjoyable and functional.
Hope for the Future
With competing titles like Manor Lords and Civilization 7 raising the bar for strategy games, Colossal Order knows they need to deliver. This update is a promising step forward, and if the developers maintain this momentum, Cities Skylines 2 could eventually live up to its potential.
Conclusion: A Game Worth Revisiting
The Cities Skylines 2 Colossal Order Update breathes new life into a game that struggled at launch. For fans who were disappointed initially, now might be the time to revisit the sequel. With smarter mechanics and a more polished experience, Cities Skylines 2 is finally starting to find its footing.
While it’s not perfect yet, the game is moving in the right direction. If Colossal Order continues to listen to player feedback and implement meaningful updates, Cities Skylines 2 could become a worthy successor to the original.