Cities: SkylinesExplainer
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Cities: Skylines Expanded Edition is out on Switch 2, with 25 tiles, mouse support and a 70% loyalty discount
Cities: Skylines - Expanded Edition came out on Switch 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, for $49.99 on the US Nintendo eShop, and a launch sale cuts it to $44.99 until 2:59 a.m. ET on Nov. 11. Paradox Interactive announced it with Tantalus Media on Oct. 7. It's the original city builder from Colossal Order with 10 DLC expansions and content packs included, among them After Dark, Snowfall, Green Cities and Sunset Harbor. Players who own Cities: Skylines on the original Switch get a 70% loyalty discount from Oct. 28, 2026, to April 28, 2027, which puts the Expanded Edition at about $15. The Switch 2 version raises the buildable area from 9 tiles to 25, adds a map editor and environmental controls, and offers a Performance mode targeting 60 fps or a Quality mode targeting 30 fps, plus keyboard and mouse support. Two Content Creator Packs and a radio station for PC, PS5 and Xbox were set for the same day, but Paradox delayed them on Oct. 15 and still hasn't given them a new date.
- Switch 2
Cities: Skylines got a bigger, faster version on Switch 2 on Oct. 28, with 10 add-ons included and 70% off for players who own it on Switch. Here’s the price, what changes on Switch 2 and which add-ons come with it.
When did Cities: Skylines come out on Switch 2?
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, as a digital release on the Nintendo eShop. Paradox Interactive announced the Expanded Edition on Oct. 7 with Tantalus Media, the studio that adapted it for Switch 2. It landed a day after Minecraft’s own Switch 2 version on Oct. 27; our Minecraft for Switch 2 page covers that upgrade, and our new games this week page has the rest.
How much is it, and what do Switch owners pay?
The Expanded Edition costs $49.99 on the US Nintendo eShop. A 10% launch sale brings it to $44.99 until 2:59 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Paradox lists £41.49 in the UK and €49 in Europe.
If you own Cities: Skylines on the original Switch, a 70% loyalty discount runs from Oct. 28, 2026, to April 28, 2027.
| Buyer | Price |
|---|---|
| New player, US eShop | $49.99 |
| New player, US eShop launch sale until Nov. 11 | $44.99 |
| Owner of the Switch version, with the 70% discount | About $15 |
| UK | £41.49 |
| Europe, eShop in Germany, France and Italy | €49.99 |
Paradox hasn’t said whether the loyalty discount and the launch sale stack.
What’s new on Switch 2
The Switch 2 version builds on the original with better visuals, better performance and new tools:
- 25 buildable tiles, up from the original 9-tile limit;
- a Map Editor for shaping your own landscapes and maps before you build;
- precision placement, a distance indicator and updated snapping options;
- an Environmental Controls Panel for time of day, rain, fog and color, adjusted in real time;
- a Quick Selection Tool for swapping between tools and assets;
- keyboard and mouse support alongside controllers.
| Graphics mode | Target | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 60 fps | Upscaling and adjusted quality settings |
| Quality | 30 fps | Higher visual fidelity |
It plays in TV, tabletop and handheld modes, and Nintendo Switch Online members get cloud saves.
Which DLC are included?
Paradox counts 10 DLC expansions and content packs in the Expanded Edition:
| Expansion | What it brings to your city |
|---|---|
| After Dark | A city that changes at night |
| Snowfall | Winter transit networks |
| Green Cities | Eco-conscious neighborhoods |
| Sunset Harbor | Busy maritime hubs |
The package also includes Map Pack 3, Country Road, Pearls from the East, Deep Focus Radio, Carols, Candles & Candy and Match Day.
The simulation underneath is the original one: you zone districts, set policies such as a car-free downtown or free public transport, and keep water, power, health care, fire, police and traffic running for thousands of citizens.
Delayed add-ons for PC, PS5 and Xbox
The other versions were due new add-ons on Oct. 28 too. Paradox delayed them on Oct. 15 over technical problems with the upcoming base game patch and kept the Expanded Edition on Oct. 28. The add-ons still have no new date, and Steam lists all three as coming soon. These were their announced prices:
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| Holiday Getaways, a Content Creator Pack | $5.99 |
| Mansions & Manors, a Content Creator Pack | $5.99 |
| Blueprint Beats Radio, 16 tracks | $3.99 |
| Estates & Escapes Bundle, both packs and the radio station | $12.99 |
The ESRB rates the Switch 2 version Everyone, with in-game purchases, and it supports 11 languages. For more Nintendo launches, see our upcoming Switch 2 games list.
This page is updated as soon as Paradox explains how the Switch owner discount works, ships a launch patch for Switch 2 or gives the delayed add-ons a new date.
FAQ
Do Switch owners get a discount on the Switch 2 version?
Yes. Players who own Cities: Skylines on Nintendo Switch get a 70% loyalty discount on the Expanded Edition from Oct. 28, 2026, to April 28, 2027. On the $49.99 price, that comes to about $15.
Does Cities: Skylines run at 60 fps on Switch 2?
The Performance mode targets 60 fps with upscaling and adjusted quality settings. The Quality mode targets 30 fps and puts visual fidelity first.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
How many buildable tiles does Cities: Skylines Expanded Edition offer on Switch 2?
The Expanded Edition raises the limit from 9 tiles to 25.
Your call
Will you build on Switch 2?
