Cities: Skylines 2 Issuing Refunds for DLC

Game ZXC

Cities: Skylines 2

By Brett Byll

Published Apr 18, 2024

Highlights

Players are disappointed with Cities: Skylines 2's DLC, leading to Paradox Interactive issuing refunds.
The release of the Beach Properties DLC has been met with discontent, but the developers are working to improve the overall experience.
The next patch for the game will make Beach Properties free, and the planned Bridges and Ports Expansion has been delayed to Q1 2025.

Cities: Skylines 2 is issuing players refunds for the game's highly anticipated DLC. The ambitious simulation game was nominated for Best Sim / Strategy Game at the 2023 Game Awards, and players were excited to see Cities: Skylines 2 improve on the previous release in scale and presentation. Although some players have enjoyed the overall experience of the game since its October 2023 release, it has struggled to maintain its positive reception.

As the launch day of the Beach Properties and Deluxe Relax Station DLC, March 25 was supposed to be a big day for Cities: Skylines 2 players. Fans were excited about the game finally getting mod support, along with its first asset pack. Fans believed both of these features would be particularly exciting ways to make the game more replayable. In addition, a roadmap for further updates forecasted an exciting year for Cities: Skylines 2, as players would be getting even more creator packs and an expansion.

Cities: Skylines 2 Dev Addresses Toxic Community

The CEO behind Cities: Skylines 2 addresses the growing toxicity among the game's community, and gives an update on the Editor tool.

Cities: Skylines 2 publisher Paradox Interactive is issuing refunds for the game's newest DLC. In addition, Paradox and developer Colossal Order have apologized for letting fans down. Players were unhappy with the new Cities: Skylines 2 DLC, voicing discontent over the way it failed to deliver on the value that was promised. At a fifth the cost of the game itself, players feel as though they should have received a substantial enough addition to reflect that pricing and scope.

Cities: Skylines 2 DLC Refund Details

Steam If you purchased Beach Properties separately or through a Steam Bundle (Expansion Pass Bundle or Beach Properties Bundle) you will automatically be refunded the amount equivalent to the cost of Beach Properties directly to your Steam Wallet.
Microsoft If you purchased Beach Properties separately or through a Bundle (Expansion Pass Bundle or Beach Properties Bundle) you will be refunded the amount equivalent to the cost of Beach Properties. We will shortly share the details on how the refunds will be made.
Paradox Store If you bought Beach Properties, the Beach Properties bundle, or the Expansion pass through the Paradox Store, you will automatically be refunded. If you purchased the Expansion Pass, you will keep your access to the Instant Unlock and Deluxe Relax station but will need to make a new purchase for any upcoming content.
Key Reseller If you bought Beach Properties or the Beach Properties Bundle through an approved 3rd party key seller you will be entitled to a refund. Please reach out to your retailer for information on how to do this, since it may vary between sellers.
Physical (Premium Edition) For this, the same conditions as Ultimate Edition apply. Beach Properties has not been sold separately as a physical box, but is included in the Premium Edition. For those of you who have redeemed your codes, you will automatically get the additional content upon its release.

Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order appear to be taking their players' criticism very seriously. At Paradox Interactive's request, Steam has unlisted the Beach Properties DLC, and for the time being, it will no longer appear in searches. Although the game and its DLC were highly anticipated, fans have expressed disappointment in the past, and developers for Cities: Skylines 2 have been committed to improving the game. After refunds have been issued, the next patch for the game will make Beach Properties free.

As Colossal Order focuses on improving the free updates and overall quality of Cities: Skylines 2, the release window of the Bridges and Ports Expansion has been shifted to Q1 2025. The community has given this news a warm reception with the hopes that more time will allow the game to be as polished as both the fans and developers believe it should be. Although some fans are considering alternatives to Cities: Skylines 2, there are still plenty of gamers willing to stick around and see how it turns out.