Well there go, the leaks were true! Paradox has announced a brand-new entry in its Cities Skylines series, and this time it’s getting a Lego makeover for what it’s calling a “playful take” on city building that’s heading to Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Switch 2.
Lego Skylines, as it’s known, is being developed by Iceflake Studios, which took over the Cities Skylines series after original developer Colossal Order was ousted following a disastrous few years for the troubled Cities Skylines 2. Iceflake has been making good strides improving that game in recent times, but it turns out it’s been busy elsewhere too.
“Start with a single plot,” explains Paradox in its Lego Skylines announcement, “build your first house, and watch your neighbourhood grow into a living, breathing metropolis shaped by your decisions.” The goal, it says, is to create a city that’s both “beautiful and functional”, with the practicalities coming in the form of electricity, food, and water to keep your fledgling city growing and your citizens happy. That’s alongside “cosy” homes, green spaces, hospitals, “quirky” stores, and anything else your Legofolk desire in order to increase your city’s rating and unlock new buildings and services.
And the Lego bit? It’s not entirely clear how it all works, but the announcement and trailer suggest there’s a greater focus on customisation compared to previous games in the series, with talk of additional customisable plots and buildings, alongside “countless” decorations you’ll be able to use to bring your city to life. You could, for instance, “Turn your city into a cultural capital with great museums and impressive sports arenas, or plop bakeries on every street corner, serving delicious donuts baked with wheat from your own farms.”
There’s no release date for Lego Skylines (which was first leaked earlier this year) yet, but hopefully we’ll learn more soon.