Cities: Skylines 2 has experienced a notably turbulent development cycle, culminating in a complete developer transition in recent months. Nearly three years after its initial release, the city-building simulator continues to grapple with significant technical issues that suggest deeper systemic problems within the gaming industry.
In a candid interview, Mariina Hallikainen, CEO of Colossal Order, the game’s original developer, has shed light on one of the project’s most critical obstacles: the decision to build Cities: Skylines 2 on Unity while relying on engine features that were not yet fully developed.
The dependency on incomplete Unity functionality appears to have created substantial complications during the game’s development. Rather than waiting for these features to mature or choosing an alternative approach, the development team proceeded with systems that remained unstable, a decision that would ultimately impact the quality of the final product.
This revelation highlights a growing concern within the gaming industry regarding engine selection and feature maturity. Developers often face pressure to release games on tight schedules, sometimes forcing them to work with tools that lack essential stability and optimization.
The shift in development leadership underscores the severity of the challenges Colossal Order encountered. While the studio has since moved on, Cities: Skylines 2 continues to serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of thoroughly vetting technology dependencies before committing to major projects.