Paradox Interactive is breathing new life into the original Cities: Skylines with “Race Day,” its first major expansion in nearly three years, while Cities: Skylines 2 continues to rely on smaller, cosmetic-focused DLC packs following its rocky technical launch.
The Return of Major Content for Cities: Skylines
The original city builder is finally receiving a substantial update. “Race Day” allows players to host diverse sporting events, including cycling, motorsports, and foot races. The expansion introduces the flexibility to construct custom circuits or designate existing city streets as event roads, which automatically close to traffic during races. The DLC is set to launch on March 10, strategically timed shortly after the start of the Formula One season.
This marks the first full-scale expansion for the original title since the release of Hotels & Retreats in May 2023. At that time, the sequel was looming on the horizon, but its subsequent disastrous launch forced developer Colossal Order to pivot, indefinitely delaying planned expansions to focus on critical technical repairs.
Cities: Skylines 2: A Slower Road to Recovery
While the sequel eventually received the Bridges & Ports expansion—initially promised for 2023 but delayed until 2025—it has largely relied on community-led content creator packs and soundtrack additions rather than gameplay-altering expansions. For the original game, the March 10 release will also include the Iconic Brutalism, Renewed History, and 8 Gear Radio DLCs, available as a bundle with Race Day for $23.99 USD.
Conversely, Cities: Skylines 2 will receive smaller updates on March 18, including the Office Evolution and City Stations creator packs, alongside new radio stations. Additionally, new developer Iceflake Studios is preparing a free patch that introduces the “Iceflake Arena” signature building, improved toggle zoning, and various bug fixes.
Player Sentiment and Future Outlook
Despite the ongoing performance struggles, data from SteamDB indicates that Cities: Skylines 2 currently maintains a higher concurrent player count than its predecessor. However, the margins are slim, highlighting the importance of Paradox Interactive’s strategy to support both titles simultaneously. Whether the sequel can regain momentum and return to receiving consistent, full-scale expansions remains the primary question for the community.
The original Cities: Skylines remains a top contender on our list of the best city-building games available today.
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