Paradox diffuse un nouveau trailer pour confirmer que la prometteuse suite de ce city-builder arrivera bien cette année, pour l’automne prochain. On ne voit encore que très peu le jeu en action, mais on devine clairement que le rendu graphique sera spectaculaire. Les amateurs de jeux de construction seront heureux de savoir que, très vraisemblablement, les développeurs sont bien restés à l’écoute des attentes des joueurs. Ce que la chef de Colossal Order confirme rapidement (voir interview ci-après), promettant un jeu dixit fantastique. Il y a fort à parier que cette suite offrira en effet une plus belle et plus large palette de possibilités. On le verra vite cet hiver.
Au passage voyez ce récent court interview de Mariina Hallikainen, CEO de colossal Order, dans lequel elle revient sur le parcours du jeu. Après un début plutôt réussi avec Cities in Motion, on retiendra que pour Cities Skylines l’idée initiale était, en 2009, de réaliser une suite spirituelle à SimCity 4. De vives négociations permirent alors au petit studio d’établir un accord de co-édition en 2010. Neuf personnes ont développé en deux le projet qu’était Cities Skylines, l’équipe passant à treize personnes au moment du lancement du jeu, ce qui représentait un projet très ambitieux alors pour le studio. Le lancement de Cities Skylines fut un succès considérable. Colossal Order fut supris par le nombre de gens intéressés par le jeu. Malgré des passages difficiles, le studio a désormais une équipe de 30 personnes.
On se souviendra que le remake de SimCity en 2013 a, malgré de nombreuses bonnes idées dans le jeu, trop enfermé le joueur dans des choix de gameplay et de construction douteux, souvent contraignants et trop caricaturaux. Cities Skylines a entre autres proposé une bien plus grande liberté de jouer et construire librement. Et de choix aussi, en permettant de modifier facilement le jeu fonction de ses propres attentes, les mods (il y en a toujours plus de 300 000…) ayant très largement contribué au succès du jeu.
Pour plus d’informations sur Cities Skylines II, dont la sortie est désormais fixée au 24 octobre prochain, voyez le site officiel et cette page sur Steam.
Communiqué
Epic Scale, Intricate Economic Systems, Simulated Citizens, and Dynamic Maps Come to Cities: Skylines II – Launching October 24
Key features revealed in gameplay trailer at today’s Xbox Games Showcase, pre-orders are now available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation®5.
STOCKHOLM – June 11, 2023 – Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order today revealed the first-ever gameplay trailer and key features for Cities: Skylines II at the Xbox Games Showcase. They also announced that Cities: Skylines II launches October 24, 2023 and pre-orders are now available on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation®5 for a suggested retail price of $49.99 / £41.99 / €49.99. Pre-order the Ultimate Edition for a suggested retail price of $89.99 / £74.99 / €89.99 and receive the Expansion Pass, including an instantly unlocked San Francisco set at Launch, and an Asset Pack, two Content Creator Packs, three Radio Stations, and Expansion unlocking over time.
Watch the Cities: Skylines II gameplay debut and release date announcement trailer here. Access assets here.
In Cities: Skylines II, players build detailed cities at an epic scale. Intricate economic systems present players with choices that have ripple effects across the city. Dynamic maps set in various biomes present both challenges and opportunities for city builders. High-fidelity visuals showcase the beauty of cities like never before, from a humble city block to an iconic city skyline. For the first time ever, each citizen has their own individual life, including occupation, household, relationships and more, making cities feel alive. Players can now follow how their choices affect citizens’ lives, adding weight and immediate impact to every strategic decision.
Players start by picking a map, with each environment presenting its own challenges, climate, and opportunities. From there, players manage a series of interconnected simulation systems as they build and grow their city. Build roads, lay out districts, set up infrastructure, and manage citizens’ needs as the population grows from a small town to a sweeping metropolis.
“Cities: Skylines II is the most captivating, visually stunning, and intricate city builder ever made,” said Mariina Hallikainen, CEO of Colossal Order. “We are giving players an unprecedented level of freedom over managing their population and city with each choice having a meaningful impact on their citizens. Players can realize their vision for an urban utopia like never before, utilizing tools to control every key aspect of the city planning experience and watching their photorealistic metropolis grow block by block.”
Cities: Skylines II Key Features:
*** Deep Simulation: Make choices that have ripple effects across the city. Intricate AI and economic systems mean players will need to strategize, problem solve and react to changes, challenges and opportunities.
Epic Scale, Endless Possibilities: Build a thriving metropolis without compromise. In Cities: Skylines II, players will be able to build sky-high and across the map to realize their dream city like never before.
Cities That Come Alive: Follow the lives of individual citizens, from love and loss to wealth and well-being. Player decisions will shape the lives of their city’s citizens.
A Dynamic World: Pick a map to set the climate and biome of the city. These natural forces will shape the growth of players’ cities as they contend with rising pollution, changeable weather and seasonal challenges.
Players will learn more about the intricate systems involved in managing their sprawling metropolis over the coming weeks via a series of deep dive videos from Colossal Order.
To learn more about Cities: Skylines II, visit the website and stay tuned to the official forums, Twitter, Instagram and Discord.**
Argh, mon PC est trop vieux pour le faire tourner…Dur dur.