Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order announced on 17 November 2025 that they would “pursue independent paths” after more than a decade of collaboration. Paradox named Iceflake Studios as the new lead developer for Cities: Skylines II, with the handover covering ongoing and future development, updates, the Editor, console editions, expansions and content packs. The announcement did not give a detailed reason for the split.
What the companies announced
Paradox said it and Colossal Order had “mutually decided to pursue independent paths.” That is the companies’ description of the decision; it does not independently establish what happened in private discussions or whether the parties had equal leverage. The announcement framed the separation as thoughtful and in the interest of both teams. Paradox’s 17 November 2025 announcement also said development of the franchise would continue under Paradox’s leadership.
Who is taking over Cities: Skylines II?
Paradox named Iceflake Studios as the incoming developer. Its announcement said Iceflake would take the helm for all development from the start of 2026, including existing and future Cities: Skylines II work. Iceflake Studio Manager Lasse Liljedahl called taking on the franchise “an immense honor and a great responsibility.”
What the handover covers
The announced scope extends beyond routine patches. Paradox said Iceflake would assume responsibility for:
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- This Content Creator Pack adds 10 maps that represent different biomes such as Boreal, Desert, Tropical, and Temperate.
- Free updates and continued development of Cities: Skylines II.
- Further work on the Editor and console editions.
- Future expansions and content packs.
These are the responsibilities described in the November 2025 announcement; the statement itself is not a status report on which items have since shipped.
What Colossal Order was set to finish first
Before leaving, Colossal Order was expected to complete a few additional updates. Paradox specifically described a Bike Patch that would add bikes and Old Town buildings, alongside bug fixes and general improvements, as well as a beta implementation of asset support for the Editor. Those were announced plans, not confirmation in that statement of subsequent delivery.
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- Two-Sided Game Board
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- Two explorers embark on research journeys to remote corners of the world: the Himalayan mountains, the Central American rainforest, the Egyptian desert, a mysterious volcano, and the bottom of the sea
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Why are Paradox and Colossal Order splitting up?
The public announcement does not explain the detailed cause. Colossal Order CEO Mariina Hallikainen said the studio was excited to put its experience and creativity into new projects aligned with its long-term vision. Paradox Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja said the publisher wanted to keep serving the Cities: Skylines community with more content and new experiences. Neither statement identifies a specific business, performance or interpersonal cause, so claims that launch problems, sales, conflict or a dismissal caused the split are not established by this announcement.
Is Cities: Skylines II still being developed?
Yes, the announced plan was for development to continue under Paradox, with Iceflake taking over as lead developer at the start of 2026. The change is a studio handover, not an announcement that the game or its planned content was being abandoned. Paradox’s statement promised continued development and named updates, Editor and console work, expansions and content packs as part of the incoming studio’s remit.
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What this announcement does—and does not—tell players
It establishes who Paradox selected to lead development and the broad categories of work included in the transition. It does not supply a detailed explanation for the breakup, performance or sales figures, or a revised release calendar for individual features. Colossal Order’s site also lists an announcement under 1 November 2025, but Paradox’s own announcement page is dated 17 November 2025; those displayed dates should not be treated as the same publication date. Colossal Order’s official site describes the company as an independent studio in Tampere, Finland, developing PC simulation games.
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