Cities: Skylines 2 Beta Tests New Features, Including Mod Support, Map Editor, Paid DLC

Cities: Skylines 2 is launching a beta test that would make available for players various new features, including mod support, a map editor, and paid DLC packs.

The beta for the new features will be out next week starting on Mar. 25 and will let players create their own maps or code mods into the game. It was also announced that asset modding will become available later this year.

New City: Skylines 2 Beta

Colossal Order announced a new beta test for Cities: Skylines 2 that would bring mod support, a map editor, and paid DLC to the game amid negative reviews.
(Photo : Colossal Order, Paradox Interactive / Screenshot taken from official website)

The head of the game's developer, Colossal Order's Mariina Hallikainen, admitted last month that the company's biggest regret was not being able to offer modding support for the game during its launch in October last year.

Immediately after release, fans criticized the title for failing to allow mods, which was considered a huge part of the original Cities Skylines games and they also complained that it suffered from various performance issues.

When explaining the game's absence of mod tools at launch, Hallikainen said that the studio simply "ran out of time." On top of the new features, players will also see the launch of Beach Properties this month, which is the delayed first wave of paid DLC that was initially due to come at the end of last year, according to Eurogamer.

Colossal Order said last year that it would not release paid DLC for Cities: Skylines 2 until it had already worked on fixing the game's performance issues to its own standards. On the other hand, console versions of the game are also underway having been delayed from last year to an unspecified date this spring.

The game's developer said that following the launch of the beta, players will also be able to use the Paradox Mods platform that is integrated into the game's experience. Furthermore, player creations can be played locally and shared globally.

Adding Mod Support and Paid DLC

The platform would also give players the ability to discover and curate other available mods, organize their preferred mods into one-click Playsets, and more. The Colossal Order CEO noted that modding is an integral part of Cities: Skylines and noted that the Modding Beta marks a transformative step for the latest installment.

She noted that the creativity and feedback from the game's players were what made the community what it is now. The Colossal Order CEO added that they were looking forward to how players use the new tools at their disposal, said IGN.

The new Beach Properties DLC was announced to have a price of $9.99 as part of the Cities: Skylines 2 Waterfronts Expansion Pass or Ultimate Edition. On top of this, there is a new in-game Radio, the Deluxe Relax Station, that will be available for $4.99 on Mar. 25. It features a new host as well as a full hour of new music for players to listen to.

The game's first DLC pack would add a waterfront residential district that includes its own bespoke buildings and four varieties of trees. On top of the new features in the upcoming beta, Colossal Order laid out a roadmap for its delayed content schedule, according to PCGamer.