The Finnish studio behind Surviving the Aftermath* has officially taken the reins of Cities: Skylines 2, and its first major update roadmap suggests a shift toward addressing player feedback with tangible improvements. After Colossal Order stepped away from the franchise last year, Iceflake Studios is now leading development, with its first developer diary outlining visual and usability enhancements that mark a departure from the original team’s vision.
At the core of the upcoming patch is a custom object recoloring tool, directly inspired by the popular Recolor mod. Players will soon be able to alter the colors of buildings, vehicles, and props—a feature that has been a staple request since the game’s launch. While the tool is initially limited to built environments, Iceflake has indicated plans to expand it to natural elements like trees and plants in future iterations.
Beyond customization, the update introduces a comprehensive UI overhaul, particularly focusing on the toolbar. The redesign aims to simplify navigation by making icons more intuitive and streamlining the onboarding process. This follows feedback that the original interface felt cluttered or unintuitive, particularly for new players.
Visual fidelity is also receiving attention. A lighting and skybox revamp will enhance nighttime visibility, while weather effects—particularly snow—have been reworked to ensure environmental accuracy. Previously, snowstorms would fail to leave traces on surfaces, a detail Iceflake has corrected with what it describes as a 'true Finnish touch.'
While this update prioritizes visual and usability tweaks, Iceflake has confirmed that a second developer diary will detail mechanical changes and bug fixes addressed in response to community discussions. The studio’s approach contrasts with Colossal Order’s departure, which left some players questioning the future of the series. Iceflake’s hands-on adjustments suggest a more collaborative development path moving forward.
The transition raises broader questions about how studios handle legacy titles. Colossal Order’s exit was framed as a mutual decision, though speculation persists about whether creative differences or market expectations played a role. For Cities: Skylines 2*, Iceflake’s focus on incremental but impactful updates may signal a renewed emphasis on player-driven evolution—a strategy that could set a precedent for other long-running franchises.
