The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Not the purchases: Paradox Interactive says a Cities: Skylines purchase cannot be transferred between platforms, so you need to buy the game again for the destination platform. The official policy covers purchases; it does not establish a universal save-transfer rule. Community reports describe console-to-PC saves as non-transferable, but do not settle every current platform pairing.
Can you transfer the game or DLC to another platform?
No. Paradox Interactive’s Helpdesk article, updated March 31, 2024, says a purchase cannot be transferred from one platform to another. Its example is a player who owns Cities: Skylines on PS4 and wants to play on PC: they need to buy it on PC. A Paradox account does not override this published policy. Paradox Helpdesk: Can I transfer my DLC/switch platform?
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Cities: Skylines [Online Game Code] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cities: Skylines II - PlayStation 5 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Cities Skylines: Parklife Edition (PlayStation 4) (PS4) | $36.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Cities Skylines Remastered Unofficial Complete Guide Updated for 2026: City Planning, Traffic... | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Cities Skylines (PS4) | $48.78 | Buy on Amazon |
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That policy means you should not expect DLC ownership to carry over either. Paradox lists add-ons by platform, including Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One; check the destination platform’s catalog and storefront for the exact game edition and DLC you need before buying. Availability can change. Cities: Skylines add-ons catalog
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Can you move a Cities: Skylines save?
There is no confirmed universal answer for every source and destination. Community discussions from 2020–2021 report that console saves cannot be transferred to PC, but those reports are not official policy and do not establish the rule for every current storefront, console generation, or platform combination. Community discussions about save transfers
#1 Best Overall
- Multi-tiered simulation: Playing as the mayor of your city you’ll be faced with balancing essential requirements such as education, water electricity, police, fire fighting, healthcare and much more along with your citys real economy system.
- Extensive local traffic simulation: Colossal Orders extensive experience developing the Cities in Motion series is fully utilized in a fully fleshed out and well-crafted transport systems.
- Districts and Policies: Be more than just an administrator from city hall. Designating parts of your city as a district results in the application of policies which results in you rising to the status of Mayor for your own city.
- Extensive modding support: Build or improve on existing maps and structures. You can then import them into the game, share them as well as download the creations of other city builders on the Steam workshop.
Do not count on a save migrating just because you link accounts or move between storefronts on the same device. The available evidence does not document an official cross-platform save-conversion workflow. If keeping a particular city matters, ask Paradox support about your exact game edition and platform pair before switching.
Check these details before switching
- Write down the exact source and destination. Distinguish Steam from another PC storefront, and identify the console and game version rather than treating all platforms as interchangeable.
- Verify the destination edition and add-ons. Use Paradox’s Cities: Skylines add-ons catalog and the destination storefront to confirm that the game and the DLC you want are available there.
- Protect the original save. Keep a backup before trying any file-level workaround; the sources do not document an official cross-platform conversion process.
- Confirm save compatibility directly. Contact Paradox support with the exact source and destination versions if you need a definitive answer for your pairing. Until confirmed, plan as though the existing save will not move.
What to expect when you change platforms
Budget for a separate copy of the game and any DLC you want on the destination platform. Treat the save as a separate question: the purchase policy does not itself prove that saves can or cannot move, and the community reports are narrower than a universal rule. Buying the destination version will not transfer old purchases or guarantee access to the existing city.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Build the city of your dreams: Plan road networks, bus lines and parks. Bring on a smog-filled industrial revolution or create a quiet beach town ideal for tourists powered by renewable energy. Bring education, healthcare and safety to your citizens. Build it your way!
- Multi-tiered and challenging simulation: Playing as the mayor of your city, you'll be faced with balancing essential requirements such as education, water electricity, police, firefighting, healthcare and much more, along with your city's economy. Citizens within your city react fluidly, keeping you on your toes with ever-evolving demands. Extensive local traffic simulation: Managing traffic and the needs of your citizens to work and play will require the use of several interactive transport systems - use careful road planning alongside buses, trains, subways, and much more
- Districts and policies: Be more than just another city hall official! Create a car-free downtown area, assign free public transport to your waterfront, or ban pets in suburbia. Designate parts of your city as a district in order to set policy at the local level, and give different parts of town their own personalities
- After Dark included: Watch your city become an entirely different place at night: a day-night cycle will have your citizens seeking out places to unwind after work. Add in new policies and zones to create popular hotspots and provide enough taxis and trains to get to and from the clubs!
Rank #4
Rank #3
- Build the city of your dreams: bring on a smog-filled industrial Revolution or create a quiet Beach town ideal for tourists powered by renewable energy. Build it your way!
- Multi-tiered and challenging simulation: playing as the mayor of your city, you'll be faced with balancing essential requirements such as education, water electricity and much more, along with your city's economy.
- extensive local traffic simulation: managing traffic and the needs of your citizens to work and play will require the use of several interactive transport systems.
- districts and policies: be more than just another city Hall official! Create a car-free downtown area, assign free public transport to your waterfront, or ban pets in suburbia.
- after Dark included: watch your city become an entirely different place at night: a day-night cycle will have your citizens seeking out places to unwind after work.use the new Park area tool to create Park districts wherever there is empty land, and new city services like Park maintenance, which boosts happiness and effectiveness and helps level up parks.customize your city with new buildings and assets, including a new sightseeing bus line, new service buildings, new unique buildings like Amusement parks, nature reserves, city parks and zoos.customize routes and set ticket prices for new Walking and sightseeing tours, among other tourism enhancements.take on three new city policies and eight new Park policies
Rank #2
- Deep Simulation: Make choices that have ripple effects across the city. Intricate AI and economic systems mean players will need to strategize, problem solve and react to changes, challenges and opportunities.
- Epic Scale, Endless Possibilities: Build a thriving metropolis without compromise. In Cities: Skylines II, players will be able to build sky-high and across the map to realize their dream city like never before.
- Cities That Come Alive: Follow the lives of individual citizens, from love and loss to wealth and well-being. Player decisions will shape the lives of their city’s citizens.
- A Dynamic World: Pick a map to set the climate and biome of the city. These natural forces will shape the growth of players’ cities as they contend with rising pollution, changeable weather and seasonal challenges.




