Failed Games: How the Developers of Battlefield 2042, Redfall, and Cities: Skylines 2 Are Fixing Mistakes After Disastrous Releases

Contents:

• Battlefield 2042
• Redfall
• Cities: Skylines 2
• Total

Battlefield 2042

Release date: November 19, 2021.

Support period is 4.5 years.

The twelfth installment in the main Battlefield series found itself in a difficult situation, as it followed Battlefield 5 (2018), one of the most discussed and controversial games in the series. Battlefield 2042 faced the important task of regaining the trust of fans who had been disappointed by numerous bugs, questionable gameplay mechanics like the resource attrition system, and an insufficiently developed story campaign. The developers needed to offer players a new experience and significant improvements to renew interest in the franchise and convince loyal fans that changes had truly taken place.

From the very beginning, it seemed that Dice Studios would be able to successfully implement all of its plans this time around. The announcement trailer for Battlefield 2042, released in the summer of 2021, promised not only to bring back beloved gameplay elements but also to elevate them to a new level. Player expectations were high, as the Battlefield series has always been known for its innovation and dynamic battles. However, with the game's release, many fans began to doubt that these promises could be fulfilled.

128-player matches offer a new dynamic of gameplay, different from the usual 64-player ones. Huge maps, spread across the globe, create unique conditions for battles. Players can use a variety of military vehicles, which allows for large-scale battles. Destructible features and natural events, such as tornadoes, significantly change the landscape and the game strategy by the end of the match, adding an element of unpredictability and tension.

The trailer for the game showed off several iconic tricks, such as the Rendezook, which is intended to attract the attention of fans of the series. The number 2042 in the title refers to the cult spin-off Battlefield 2142, which immerses players in the struggle for resources in the distant future. This connects the new installment to the series' history and highlights its evolution.

Dice has unveiled the Battlefield Portal mode, which will satisfy the nostalgia of series fans. This mode allows players to participate in matches with custom rules on classic maps like Caspian Border from Battlefield 3 and Valparaiso from Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Battlefield Portal opens up new possibilities for creating unique gaming experiences, combining beloved elements of old games with modern gameplay.

At first glance, Battlefield 2042 seemed like a promising project. However, after release, it became clear that the game only highlighted the shortcomings of the series, adding annoying modern trends to them.

The huge maps, as it turned out, largely consist of empty areas, forcing players to spend several minutes traveling to key points of interest if they spawn unsuccessfully. This leads to a loss of the effect of mass: teams of 64 people get lost against the vast expanses. Specialist characters, reminiscent of shooter heroes, clash with the traditional class system, which creates dissonance in the gameplay. The destructibility and cataclysms present in the game serve more of a formal function, without having a significant impact on the course of the match. Optimization of the game space and improvement of interaction between classes could significantly increase the interest and dynamism of the gameplay.

Battlefield 2042's release in November 2021 was plagued by numerous technical issues and bugs, including the lack of voice chat, which negatively impacted the game's reception. Critics noted low scores, and players expressed general dissatisfaction. Just a week after its release, Battlefield 2042 lost popularity, losing concurrent players to Farming Sim 22. By the end of 2024, the number of online players had dropped to 19,000, which was fewer than Battlefield 5 during the same period.

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Battlefield 2042: How the Game Changes the Series Formula and What It Means for Players

Battlefield 2042 represents a significant change to the traditional formula of the series. Unlike previous games, this installment emphasizes large-scale battles with large numbers of participants. However, despite the increase in player count, many fans are wondering: does this actually improve the gameplay?

One of the key features of Battlefield 2042 was the decision to introduce new classes and the Specialists system. This change is intended to diversify gameplay and give players more options for playstyle. However, some critics note that it can also lead to imbalances and a deterioration in teamwork.

In addition, Battlefield 2042 introduces elements typical of modern games-as-a-service, such as constant content updates and seasonal events. This may attract a new audience, but it also raises concerns among dedicated fans who prefer a traditional approach to the game.

Visually, Battlefield 2042 boasts impressive graphics and large-scale maps, making battles more immersive. However, technical issues at the game's launch create additional difficulties for players, which may negatively impact the overall experience.

Thus, Battlefield 2042 attempts to evolve the series' formula by introducing new mechanics and features. However, whether these changes actually improve the gameplay remains to be seen. Players will have to judge how successful this evolution will be for future Battlefield games.

Battlefield 2042 is not the first game from Electronic Arts to be released in an unfinished state. Similar issues were previously observed in Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017) and Battlefield 5. Both games were plagued by numerous bugs and errors at launch, leading to a significant portion of their life cycles being devoted to fixing these issues. As a result, players expect higher-quality products from new releases, but history shows that this problem continues to persist.

Both games demonstrated excellent sales results, which taught Electronic Arts an important lesson: despite launch issues, a game can always be fixed later. The publisher successfully used this approach for several years, but the situation changed with the release of Battlefield 2042, which disrupted the established pattern.

Before release, the game's developers announced four seasons of play, including new maps, specialist characters, and cosmetic items for Battle Passes. However, after the poor launch, their task became more difficult. Now they need to not only develop new content, but also fix what has already been released to improve the player experience and restore trust in the game.

According to reporter Jeff Grubb, the game's support team was significantly reduced following the release of Battlefield 2042. This staff reduction was also reflected in Dice's decision to discontinue development of one of the game's key modes, Hazard Zone. This information highlights the problems the game has faced since launch and raises questions about the future of Battlefield 2042 updates and support.

The release of Season 1 has been delayed until summer 2023 to fix bugs and add key features, such as a match scoreboard, which was missing from the release version. In June 2023, players finally got the first season, called Zero Hour, and since then, Dice has released six more seasons.

By March 2024, after the release of the last major game update, the developers have implemented numerous new features and elements. These changes are so extensive that simply listing all the innovations would take several pages of text. The updates include not only bug fixes and balancing tweaks, but also significant gameplay improvements, new mechanics, and content, making the game more engaging and varied for players.

Battlefield 2042 has added four new Specialists, one for each of the base classes. With each new season, players gain access to unique maps, among which the mountain map "Discovery" stands out, characterized by extreme elevation changes. These updates help increase the variety of gameplay and allow users to adapt their strategies depending on the features of new locations and specialists.

Old maps have received significant changes. For example, the Hourglass arena lost its sand-filled stadium, which later became the basis for the new map. In addition, the developers brought back some elements from Battlefield 2042, reducing the scale of the Breakthrough mode to 64 players, making it more familiar to fans of the series.

Support for Battlefield 2042 continues even after the conclusion of the final season. In May 2025, players received a new seasonal update, which brought a set of cosmetic items inspired by the Dead Space universe to the game and also returned the temporary zombie mode, Outbreak. These innovations contribute to increased interest in the game and offer users new opportunities for customization and gaming experience.

Battlefield 2042, after its disappointing launch, has found a way to recover. The developers are actively fixing bugs, introducing new content, and providing regular updates. However, there is a risk that without constant support and player engagement, the game will not be able to stay afloat in the competitive environment.

The current version of Battlefield 2042 has significantly improved in terms of stability compared to the initial release. Players note fewer crashes and errors, which allows them to focus on gameplay and enjoy the combat. The developers continue to make improvements, making Battlefield 2042 more attractive to new and returning players.

Over the past 20 hours spent playing, I have not encountered a single serious technical issue. There were no texture drops, no vehicle physics glitches, no frame rate drops – the game demonstrates complete stability. The match scoreboard and voice chat function without complaints. This level of quality significantly improves the gaming experience and allows you to focus on the process, without being distracted by technical problems.

The gameplay has become more engaging thanks to new heroes. Two engineers stand out in particular: Evelina Lis, whose grenade launcher fires guided projectiles, and Charlie Crawford, who deploys a stationary minigun. These specialists significantly strengthen the team on large maps, providing the ability to destroy enemy vehicles at long range. The new mechanics and abilities of the engineers open up new strategic possibilities and make the gameplay more dynamic and interesting.

The maps in the game have been significantly improved. Long runs to the flag have practically disappeared: points of interest in the old arenas have been moved closer and redesigned to create more exciting battle scenarios. The new maps impress with their variety. For example, the "Discovery" arena offers players unique locations, including a vast plateau, a dilapidated tunnel running through the mountain, and a narrow, winding gorge at its foot. Эти изменения делают игровой процесс более динамичным и увлекательным, привнося новые тактические возможности для командных сражений.

Dice, as promised, took player feedback into account and transformed the initially crude project into a high-quality multiplayer shooter. However, despite all the improvements, the developers failed to eliminate the main issues that continue to negatively impact the gameplay.

Battlefield 2042 has become significantly more interesting to play compared to its release, but the game still feels redundant. For example, 128-player matches continue to resemble a less organized version of 64-player battles. Despite the improvements, the mechanics and dynamics of the gameplay have not reached the expected level, which may disappoint dedicated fans of the series. Nevertheless, the developers continue to make changes, which gives hope for further improvements to the gaming experience.

Let's consider the sector control system, which still lacks the conciseness that was characteristic of flag battles in previous parts of the game. Many arenas still contain significant empty spaces, making them ideal training grounds for snipers and tanks. I've encountered more than one situation where I was killed right at the spawn point. At the same time, there is also the opposite problem: the number of approaches to key points is so great that even the most well-organized squad is unable to control all possible directions.

Battlefield 2042 is more challenging to play cohesively than previous versions of the game, and this is due to the Specialists. Although each of them is tied to a specific class, players still need to take into account 14 different characters with unique abilities and customization options. This adds complexity to teamwork and requires players to think more strategically.

A support soldier in your squad can be equipped with various items, such as an ammo box, a first aid kit, or anti-personnel mines. Depending on the chosen equipment, their assistance can vary, which creates uncertainty in critical situations. It is important to determine roles and tasks in advance to make the most of their capabilities in battle.

The game interface is still overloaded with elements, which creates a lack of convenience for players. For example, having to select weapon attachments in the respawn menu and then equip them separately during combat is puzzling. Visual elements are also worth noting: the red light on enemies' suits blends in with headlights and other light sources, making them difficult to spot. The excessive number of icons on the screen only adds confusion and detracts from the gameplay. The interface needs to be optimized to make it more intuitive and convenient for players.

The answer to all these questions is simple: players need a tool to navigate a complex system of conflicting mechanics. Behind Battlefield 2042's complex interface lie interesting ideas that haven't been properly implemented or developed.

Battlefield Portal, initially seen as one of Battlefield 2042's most promising features, never became a fully-fledged tool for players. It remained merely a means for finding custom servers, without any updates to classic maps beyond those available at launch. Currently, Portal servers are mostly represented by bots, as the remaining 5-6 thousand users prefer to play on the official Electronic Arts servers, which confirms the low popularity of this mode.

Battlefield 2042 survives not on its own intrinsic merits, but thanks to constant content updates, including cosmetic items and seasonal events. At the same time, the game feels less appealing compared to previous installments in the series, such as Battlefield V and Battlefield 1, which continue to have a larger online audience.

Battlefield 2042 is in a fortunate position, as the developers continue to actively support the game, ensuring its viability until the announcement of the next installment in the series. At the same time, the next game faces more challenging conditions and a less favorable situation. Battlefield 2042 is supported with updates and patches to keep players engaged and grow the community.

Redfall

Release date: May 2, 2023.

Support period is one year.

The story of Arkane Austin's final project is a tale of a game that failed to finish, despite the efforts of its developers. Initially, everything was going well, and the team had high hopes for a successful result.

Since the release of Prey in 2017, Arkane, a studio located in Austin, Texas, has established itself as one of the leading developers of immersive simulations. These games aim to fully immerse the player in a realistic virtual world, providing them with ample opportunities to interact with the environment and freely choose actions within a given setting. Arkane continues to evolve the genre, creating unique game mechanics and sophisticated stories that attract the attention of both critics and players.

Prey fits the bill perfectly, offering a unique setting on the alien-infested Talos I space station. Every detail is meticulously crafted, creating a captivating atmosphere. Players can find a variety of solutions to each problem, using innovative tools like a foam bridge-creating cannon and the ability to mimic various objects on the station. This diversity of approaches allows each player to find their own playstyle and explore the world of Prey at their own pace.

Prey quickly achieved cult status, and the studio's next project, the vampire action game Redfall, promises to be even more ambitious. This project aims to create a unique gaming experience, combining elements of action and horror. The developers strive to offer players a deep story and exciting gameplay that will immerse them in the atmosphere of fighting vampires in an open world. Redfall has every chance of becoming a new favorite among fans of the genre, continuing the studio's tradition of high-quality content.

Redfall was originally conceived as Arkane Austin's first open-world project, unlike previous games that offered more linear levels. The game's primary focus was on co-op for up to four players, allowing teams to hunt vampires together, creating a unique experience of collaboration and co-op play.

Redfall was developed under the direction of Harvey Smith and Ricardo Bare, talented specialists whose achievements include games such as Prey, the first Dishonored, and the early Deus Ex games. Given their experience and reputation, the project was expected to be an engaging mystical action game that would give players many enjoyable hours of gameplay. However, the colossal failure of Redfall in May 2023 was a real disappointment and a complete surprise for many.

The problem wasn't just the game's terrible technical state, but also the fact that users received only an incomplete version of the product. Instead of a full gaming experience, they were faced with an unfinished fragment, which significantly degraded the overall impression of the project.

Despite its small size, the game's open world feels empty. Dungeons found in the game are often monotonous locations consisting of only a couple of rooms. The story is presented through slideshows, which prevents the player from enjoying full cutscenes. Enemy AI leaves much to be desired, making combat less engaging. The enemy roster is limited, and the main characters' abilities are also unimpressive. The loot system is confusing and uninteresting, which negatively affects the overall impression of the game.

Redfall has numerous flaws that deserve detailed analysis. The game received low reviews, as evidenced by its average score of 57 on OpenCritic. Steam users also expressed their dissatisfaction, noting numerous problems and flaws. These factors negatively impacted the game's reception and its popularity among gamers.

At one point, the situation reached a critical point that Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, was forced to issue a public apology for the unsuccessful release of Redfall. He promised that the development team would take measures to fix bugs and improve the gaming experience.

The promise of long-term support for the project failed to materialize: Arkane Austin closed just a year after the release of Redfall.

The closure of Arkane Austin's branch was not unexpected. Rumors of potential problems first surfaced after journalist Jason Schreier's investigative report into the difficulties that arose during the development of Redfall. This event highlights the ongoing challenges in the video game industry, as well as the importance of effective project management and team dynamics. The difficulties described in the investigation have become a harbinger of serious changes at the company, raising questions about the future of Arkane and its projects.

The developers faced two key obstacles: a lack of experience in creating multiplayer projects and high staff turnover. These factors significantly hampered the development process, reducing the overall team efficiency and slowing down the completion of tasks. The lack of experience hindered the application of best practices and innovative solutions necessary for the successful creation of a multiplayer game. High staff turnover led to a loss of knowledge and skills, which negatively impacted the quality of the final product. Overcoming these obstacles requires a careful approach to team building and investment in developer training.

Following the commercial failure of Prey, ZeniMax, the owner of Arkane Studios, sought to secure a project from the developers that could be monetized after launch. As a result, Smith and Bare proposed the concept of a cooperative vampire shooter, which marked a new step in their creative process. This idea aims to create a long-term gaming experience supported by updates and additional content, which will not only attract an audience but also ensure stable revenue after the game's release.

The Arkane team faced a problem, as it was focused on creating single-player games like Dishonored and had virtually no experience working on multiplayer projects. This led to discontent among employees, and during the development of Redfall, Arkane's Austin branch lost approximately 70 percent of its staff, who had previously worked on Prey. This significant attrition has had a negative impact on the project and its development.

The team was short-staffed, forcing the game's release date to be pushed back from 2022 to the first half of 2023. This decision was made to ensure the game was released in a satisfactory and playable state.

By the time Redfall was released, the studio found itself in a difficult position. However, the remaining team made efforts to improve the project and fix any flaws. They aimed to make the game more appealing to players despite the challenging development conditions.

Over the past year, Arkane Austin has released four updates for Redfall. These updates primarily contained minor improvements aimed at optimizing the gameplay. The developers addressed the most noticeable bugs and performance issues, improved enemy AI, and balanced the gameplay experience. In addition, new accessibility options have been added, making the game more comfortable for various categories of players.

With the latest updates, Redfall introduced a frame rate mode up to 60 frames per second, significantly improving gameplay compared to the previous 30 frames per second. Players can now also enjoy offline play, offering more freedom and flexibility. Additionally, a pause function has been added to single-player mode, allowing players to take breaks without losing progress. These improvements were unavailable at launch, making these updates especially valuable for players.

The final update appears to be the beginning of more extensive changes. In this update, the developers introduced two new mechanics: community status and Ancient nests. Однако команде не удалось развить эти задумки, так как обновление вышло после объявления о закрытии Arkane Austin и стало, по сути, прощальным подарком для преданных поклонников.

В своём обзоре два года назад я отмечал, что Redfall всё ещё можно спасти, если разработчики определятся с концепцией: иммерсивный симулятор или лутер-шутер. Теперь я осознаю, что ошибался. Чем больше времени я провожу в Redfall, тем яснее становится, что у неё не было реальных шансов на восстановление. Игровой процесс, механики и общая структура не соответствуют ожиданиям, и это сильно сказывается на восприятии проекта. Разработчикам не удалось создать увлекательный и проработанный опыт, что делает Redfall невыразительным на фоне других игр в жанре.

Redfall has significantly improved its technical stability. Issues such as frame rate drops, blurry textures, and cars exploding in one shot have been successfully addressed by the Arkane Austin team. These fixes contribute to a smoother gameplay experience and improve the overall quality of the game, making Redfall more appealing to players.

Despite some aspects, it's hard to praise the game. The open world still feels empty and monotonous. The plot continues to be delivered through drawn-out notes and unsuccessful slideshows. The character slides on the ground for too long during slides, and the general controls feel clunky, which makes it difficult to enjoy fights with fast vampires. These shortcomings significantly affect the overall gameplay and reduce the level of engagement.

The game is characterized by simplicity, as the artificial intelligence remains average. This time, I chose the character - mercenary Jacob Boyer, who has a unique invisibility cloak. Every time I activated invisibility, enemies instantly forgot about my presence, even if I was close. At the same time, they did not hear my steps at a distance of two meters, which indicates that the cloak not only hides from view, but also suppresses the sounds created by my actions. This mechanic adds a strategic element to the game, allowing players to use the tactical advantages of invisibility to evade opponents.

The new gameplay mechanics attempt to bring meaning to the routine process of opening shelters and rescuing NPCs from vampire captivity. Despite the innovations, they feel like a last-ditch effort to add variety to monotonous actions, highlighting the need for deeper changes to the gameplay. Players are looking not only for entertainment but also for engaging scenarios that can inspire new strategies and interactions with the world.

Now, performing these actions gives you access to community perks, which opens up new possibilities, such as restocking health kits and ammunition in the shelter. This creates an additional incentive to complete side quests and activate fast travel points. However, these actions alone do not provide an engaging gaming experience.

Ancient Nests are a unique type of vampire nest, featuring procedurally generated dungeons. These dungeons periodically appear in the open world, creating new opportunities for exploration and adventure. Ancient Nests bring an element of surprise and variety to gameplay, offering players unique challenges and rewards.

In Ancient Nests, you won't just face regular vampires; instead, you'll face an epic boss battle—a particularly powerful bloodsucker. However, this is just one variation of a rather primitive dungeon. Vampire nests remain largely unchanged. While the generation has become slightly more varied since its release, they still feature linear levels with repetitive enemies.

Redfall's situation evokes associations with the episode of Breaking Bad, in which Walter White first fixes a leaky boiler, only to realize the problem is caused by mold that has infected the entire foundation of his house. This analogy highlights how a seemingly minor issue can conceal more serious flaws, which is also true for Redfall, where superficial improvements don't always solve the game's underlying problems.

Redfall is like a house with a rotten foundation. It can be painstakingly repaired: bugs can be fixed, gameplay can be balanced, and new mechanics and content can be added. However, the game will continue to suffer from flaws at its core—hasty and inconsistent design decisions. Such issues hinder player experience and can negatively impact player experience. Even with improvements, fundamental flaws will hinder the project's development and cause audience disappointment.

Redfall cannot become the next Cyberpunk 2077, and there are good reasons for that. Cyberpunk 2077 had a strong foundation, including a compelling story and a vibrant, well-developed setting of Night City. In contrast, Redfall offers only a trivial town in the American outback and generic vampires, significantly reducing its appeal. Without a deep story and original atmosphere, the game will fail to attract attention and create a similar cultural phenomenon.

To create a truly high-quality product, the leveling system, enemy balance, main storyline, and open world must be radically rethought. This means that the game will essentially need to be redesigned to meet modern standards and player expectations.

In the gaming industry, the realization that attempts to save failed projects often don't pay off is far more common than successful comebacks of failed games. Over the past two years, we have seen several notable examples of new service games launching with great enthusiasm, only to be quickly shut down after an unsuccessful release. This underscores the importance of quality pre-launch analysis and testing, as well as the need to incorporate player input into the development process.

In January 2025, Rocksteady announced the end of support for the long-awaited Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. Despite this, owners of copies of the game received several updates and retained access to it. However, there are cases in the gaming industry where publishers completely remove projects, leaving players unable to enjoy them. The servers for the extraction shooter The Day Before were shut down just six weeks after its release in late 2023. The heroic action game Concord, released in 2024, had an even shorter lifespan: it was shut down just two weeks after a rocky launch. These examples highlight the complex realities of modern gaming, where even the most anticipated projects can face serious problems, leading to their closure. Developers often face challenges such as technical issues, lack of player interest, and insufficient community support, making the successful launch and continued support of their games critical to their survival in the market.

These games are derivative works created to capitalize on popular trends in the gaming industry. They clearly demonstrate that not all unsuccessful releases deserve a second chance, as they often lack their own merits and original ideas. These projects illustrate the problem of repeating successful concepts without introducing fresh elements, which makes them less appealing to players.

Not all projects given a second chance are able to successfully implement them. The latest game we'll be discussing is a prime example of this.

Cities: Skylines 2

Release date: October 24, 2023.

The support period is 1.5 years.

Unlike Dice and Arkane Austin, whose problems only became apparent at the last minute, Colossal Order openly discusses all emerging difficulties. It actively supports fan feedback, which promotes more transparent communication and strengthens trust in the brand.

Since the announcement of Cities: Skylines 2 in March 2023, the developers have been actively sharing information about the new features and mechanics that await players in the sequel to the popular city-building simulator. The innovations sound promising and promise to significantly expand the possibilities for creating and managing cities. Players can expect improved graphics, more advanced artificial intelligence, and new gameplay elements, making city-building even more engaging and realistic. Cities: Skylines 2 aims not only to attract new players but also to satisfy the needs of loyal fans of the original game, offering them fresh ideas and creative opportunities.

Advanced traffic and city economy simulation offers players the opportunity to create and develop real megacities on huge maps. The game features a changing seasons, which adds realism and variety to the gameplay. In addition, new convenient road construction and zoning tools allow for more efficient urban infrastructure planning and resource management. Create unique cities, taking into account the needs of residents and traffic dynamics, and become a master of the urban economy.

The first game in the Cities: Skylines series, released in 2015, revolutionized the city-building simulator genre. The second part, anticipated by many fans, should strengthen the position of the Colossal Order studio as a leader in this niche. Cities: Skylines 2 promises expanded city creation and management capabilities, new mechanics, and improved graphics, allowing players to immerse themselves in a unique city-building experience. With each new game, Colossal Order demonstrates a commitment to innovation, which makes their projects especially attractive to fans of the genre.

On the eve of the October 2023 release, warning signs began to emerge that the development of Cities: Skylines 2 was facing difficulties. Publisher Paradox Interactive announced that the console version of the game was delayed until 2024 to allow for additional time for optimization. At the same time, the minimum system requirements for running the game were updated, further indicating difficulties in the development process.

A week before the release, the studio's developers strongly advised players to lower their expectations. They openly admitted that the game's optimization was not up to their standards. Unfortunately, the release confirmed their warnings. Optimization was below expected levels, which negatively impacted gameplay and the user experience.

At the launch of Cities: Skylines 2, players encountered numerous technical issues. The game engine struggled to handle the detailed city simulation, resulting in frequent freezes, frame rate drops, and crashes to the desktop, even on powerful computers. These shortcomings seriously impacted the gameplay and the overall rating of the project. The developers will need to address these issues to improve performance and provide a more stable gaming experience for users.

After the game's release, players soon identified one of the causes of its slowdowns. This turned out to be due to the citizens' teeth, which were rendered in high detail, despite the fact that players couldn't see them. This excessive attention to detail negatively impacted the game's performance, causing frustration among users. Optimizing the graphics and removing unnecessary elements could significantly improve the gameplay and reduce the system load.

Optimization issues in Cities: Skylines 2 aren't the only criticism that has been voiced. Journalists and players have noted shortcomings in the economic simulation, which suffers from vague rules. Issues with unnatural building geometry and the lack of mod support at the time of release have also been noted. These aspects cause frustration among users and call into question the overall appeal of the game.

Despite selling a million copies, Cities: Skylines 2 has received a lukewarm reception. Currently, only 53 percent of Steam reviews are positive.

The challenges facing Cities: Skylines 2 become clearer after watching a documentary released by Colossal Order immediately after the game's release. This film reveals key aspects of the game's development and demonstrates the difficulties the team faced during its creation.

According to information from the film, problems with the technical side of the project began three years before its release. Contrary to popular belief, Cities: Skylines 2 did not use the developments of the first part. Although the sequel was developed on the same Unity engine, all the tools, assets, and mechanics were created from scratch. This led to significant difficulties in development and delays in the game's release.

Marina Halikainen, director of Colossal Order, explained that the decision to simplify the game's support was made to optimize the development process. In the case of the original Cities: Skylines, the release of additional materials became a serious problem. The developers did not expect the game to reach such a scale of popularity and therefore did not provide the necessary architecture for the implementation of new gameplay mechanics. This decision is aimed at improving the quality of support and expanding the options for players, which will ensure a smoother and more efficient game update process.

The development of the sequel was aimed at creating a solid foundation for future DLC, as well as improving the detail and scale of the simulation. However, the use of the Unity engine, which did not match the team's increased ambitions, made the development process extremely difficult.

Порой исправление ошибок в игре занимало несколько недель, что привело к тому, что Cities: Skylines 2, запланированная к выходу в конце 2020 года, провела три года в сложном процессе разработки. В конечном итоге игру выпустили в незавершенном состоянии из-за того, что сроки её разработки значительно превысили ожидаемые.

Геймдизайнер Генри Хаймакайнен отметил, что игра является их творением: «Это наше дитя. Оно столкнулось с трудностями при релизе, но с помощью доработок и оптимизации оно сможет развиваться и в конечном итоге станет самостоятельным и успешным проектом».

The developer's hopes were not fully justified. Following its release, Colossal Order began releasing hotfixes. Marina Halikainen began communicating with fans through a blog titled "Word of the Week," sharing the studio's plans for upcoming patches and key development directions. One of the first patches for Cities: Skylines 2 introduced a reduction in object detail, including character models. In spring 2024, the game finally received mod support, implemented through the Paradox Mods platform, replacing the Steam Workshop. During this time, the developers also worked on improving gameplay systems, such as the city economy. These changes are aimed at optimizing the gameplay and expanding the options for players, which contributes to a more engaging and varied experience.

Paradox Interactive's monetization policy raises many questions among players. Each major release by the company traditionally comes with numerous paid DLCs, and Cities: Skylines 2 was no exception. In March 2024, while the game was still in development, Colossal Order released the first add-on, Beach Properties. This add-on added new assets for coastal buildings and cost players ten dollars.

Fans reacted negatively to this decision, and the studio's management was forced to apologize to fans. As a result, the assets from Beach Properties were included in the main game, and the developers committed to fixing the bugs in the game before starting DLC ​​development again.

Add-on production resumed in late 2024, and since then, developer Colossal Order has released nine paid DLCs. These add-ons do not introduce new gameplay mechanics, as was the case with the add-ons for the first part. All new DLCs are either sets of assets created by modders or new playlists for the game's soundtrack. This allows players to diversify their experience by adding unique elements to the game, but they do not affect the core mechanics of gameplay.

Colossal Order strives to meet the demand for new content without detracting from the development of updates for the game. However, such attempts to fix existing problems make their efforts less effective. Players expect quality improvements and fixes, so it's important that the developers focus on addressing pressing issues rather than creating new content.

I'm disappointed in Cities: Skylines 2 because it's a decent game overall, but it's missing key elements to be truly great.

The second part significantly improves many aspects of the original game. The interface has become more intuitive, which makes laying out roads and creating districts much easier and more convenient. Traffic simulation has also undergone changes: drivers now use all lanes on the roads more efficiently and, if necessary, choose longer routes to avoid traffic jams. This adds realism and improves the overall gameplay, allowing players to manage the city more effectively.

The upgrade points mechanic offers players the opportunity to choose which buildings to unlock upon reaching new stages in the development of the city. This adds an element of strategy and individuality to the gameplay, allowing you to tailor your city to your own preferences and tactical needs.

Cities: Skylines 2 offers a wealth of content, including numerous mechanics and buildings that had to be acquired through add-ons in the first game. In the new version, many of these elements are now available as standard, making the gameplay more diverse and engaging for players. This update significantly improves the player experience, allowing them to focus on building and managing the city without the need for additional investments.

Cities: Skylines 2, unlike Battlefield 2042 and Redfall, doesn't suffer from any serious design flaws. The game is built on a solid concept and offers many engaging ideas and mechanics. However, despite this, it falls short in several key areas.

The first aspect worth noting is the graphics. The cities don't look as attractive as they should. Despite all the efforts to add parks and landmarks, they still resemble vast concrete expanses. This creates a feeling of emptiness and a lack of picturesque elements, which negatively impacts the perception of the urban landscape. Improving the visual design of cities can contribute to the creation of a more attractive and comfortable urban environment.

The game's overall style, striving for greater realism, or the need for optimization are factors that could have affected the visual experience. However, it's clear that the landscapes in the first version of Cities: Skylines were significantly more picturesque. For a game whose primary goal is to create a beautiful city, this represents a serious drawback. Improving the visual component and returning to brighter and more attractive landscapes could significantly increase player interest and improve the overall perception of the project.

The second area where Colossal Order fell short is its economic simulation. The developers continue to work on improving this system. For example, a patch aimed at addressing the city's homelessness problem was released in March. However, the city economy remains the most vulnerable element of gameplay in Cities: Skylines 2. Improving the economic model is key to creating realistic and engaging gameplay, making this issue especially pressing for players.

Wrong decisions can lead to serious financial problems for your city. To achieve a surplus and ensure a steady influx of residents, I had to carefully manage taxes and expenses from the very beginning. However, as soon as I launched a new bus route in a developing city, the budget fell into deficit again.

Residents' fees for utilities and travel card sales should partially cover the costs of maintaining city services. However, in practice, this doesn't solve the problem. As a result, the first hours of city service operation become a time for cutting corners, which negatively impacts both the well-being of city residents and the creativity of employees. New approaches to financing and management are needed to ensure the stable functioning of city services and improve the quality of life in the city.

Once you've overcome the initial challenges, financial difficulties disappear. Just construct a few high-quality buildings, and your city begins to generate significant profits. The economy becomes stable, and even the most unwise loans and special projects are unable to undermine its stability.

Many interesting phenomena can be observed in the economy, among which the locals' love of office space stands out. In my city, business districts were significantly more popular than factories and shops. This is especially noteworthy given that most residents did not have higher education and had rather modest incomes. This preference for offices may indicate changing economic conditions and population needs, where the importance of office space increases even with limited financial resources.

Despite the designers' best efforts, the economy of Cities: Skylines 2 continues to experience significant fluctuations, leading to players either losing interest or experiencing high levels of stress. This creates an imbalance in the gameplay, forcing users to search for optimal strategies for resource management and city development.

Graphical and economic issues in Cities: Skylines 2 continue to plague players. While I haven't experienced any significant technical issues, many users continue to experience freezes and crashes. Modders are also expressing frustration with the unfinished state of the Paradox Mods platform, which is still in beta.

Cities: Skylines 2 falls short of expectations, feeling like a lesser-quality copy of its predecessor, the original Cities: Skylines. It's puzzling: how could a team with such experience creating simulation games fail to perfect the sequel to their most successful game? However, if you look at the situation from the publisher's perspective, it becomes clear why the project fell short. Many aspects that made the original successful weren't fully realized or improved, which negatively impacts the overall experience.

Bottom Line

Games like Cities: Skylines 2 are often released unfinished, primarily because publishers can afford it. There will always be dedicated fans or simply users swayed by the marketing campaign who are willing to purchase an unpolished product on release day, hoping for fixes in future updates. This situation highlights the need for a more responsible approach to game development and a careful attention to player expectations. Given the growing competition in the gaming industry, it is important that publishers and developers strive for high quality to build trust and loyalty with their audience.

Publishers are under pressure to deliver games on time before their next investor earnings call to demonstrate strong sales figures. This pressure sometimes leads studios to compromise, releasing their projects in an unsatisfactory state. This can negatively impact the reputations of both developers and publishers, as well as player satisfaction. Therefore, it is important to find a balance between release dates and the quality of the finished product.

We view the situation as similar to selling real estate at the foundation stage: buyers are investing not only in the product itself, but also in the promise of its completion. They expect the developers to fulfill their obligations and deliver on their vision.

I have encountered this situation myself many times. For example, in a recent review of Civilization 7, I noted that the game would be perfected within a few years. However, in this case, we are talking about a high-quality game from a well-known series, which is famous for the fact that its versions are constantly being improved over the years after their release.

Most games released in a crude state don't receive even a fraction of the attention and effort directed toward Civilization. The "release a broken game and fix it later" strategy is gradually losing its relevance. In recent years, unsuccessful projects have increasingly received only the bare minimum of updates, such as Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, or been shut down early, as happened with Redfall and Concord. Thus, developers are increasingly recognizing the importance of the quality and stability of their games at release, reflecting the changing approaches to game development and support in the modern gaming industry.

The best way to counter such commercial strategies is to refrain from purchasing or launching a game until it has reached the required level of quality that meets the original user expectations. This will not only save money but also let developers know that players value a quality product.

Ideally, the effect will be so noticeable that it will lead the company to change its development approach. An example of this is Dice, which launched the Battlefield Labs initiative. This initiative aims to create new releases in the series based on fan feedback and suggestions. This approach not only improves the quality of games but also strengthens the bond between developers and players, ultimately leading to more successful and in-demand products.

While your personal boycott may not change publishers' decisions, you can still save money and time. These resources can be used to acquire truly high-quality games that deserve your support much more than the imaginary promises from publishers.