Amid Cities Skylines 2‘s continuing efforts to right the ship some two years after its troubled launch (and with original developer Colossal Order no longer attached to the series), publisher Paradox Interactive has announced the first expansion for Cities Skylines 1 in nearly two year.
Paradox says it’s creating the new expansion, titled Race Day, in “close collaboration” with Tantalus Media – a studio primarily known for its remaster and porting work on games like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Stellaris: Console Edition, and Age of Empires 3: Definite Edition. As its name suggests, Race Day is a sports-themed expansion, giving players the tools to “transform their streets into thrilling motor racing, running, and cycling courses.” It’s out 10th March for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Race Day officially arrives as part of Cities Skylines’ 11th anniversary celebrations, which also include several further bits of paid DLC (the Iconic Brutalism and Renewed History content creator packs, plus the 8 Gear Radio music station) and a free base game update adding roadside fences and an Employment Info View designed to provide a closer look at a city’s workforce. All four releases will be available to purchase separately from 10th March, and they’re also being bundled together for £20.15/€23.99/$23.99.
As for Cities Skylines 2, that’s getting two new content creator packs – Office Evolution and City Stations – and two new radio stations, Smooth Vibes FM and Skyrail Radio, on 18th March. Again, these can also be purchased in a bundle, this one costing £18.49/€21.99/$21.99. Paradox has also confirmed work on the sequel continues, with new developer Iceflake Studios set to follow its first (and positively received) February patch with a free update adding the Iceflake Arena signature building, improved toggle zoning, bug fixes, and more.
Signs Paradox might be looking to resurrect the phenomenally popular Cities Skylines 1 following its sequel’s disastrous launch (and amid a string of other major misfires for the publisher, including an indefinite delay for Prison Architect 2 and the cancellation of Life By You) emerged toward the end of last year when – some 18 months after Cities: Skylines 1’s release roadmap officially concluded – it announced a fresh batch of relatively minor paid DLC.
The arrival of Race Day, however, suggests it might have grander plans for Cities Skylines 1 as its sequel, now under new stewardship, attempts to find its feet after several difficult years. As for Cities Skylines 2’s long-promised Xbox Series X/S and PS5 release – originally due to arrive alongside the PC version back in 2023 – it’s supposedly still on the way.
