The patch for Economy 2.0 will be one of our biggest to date, and that also means that there will be many changes in how the game functions, especially with the economy.
We are now close to releasing the Economy 2.0 patch! The final checks are being made before we push the buttons, and it might be in your hands already tomorrow. Before the patch is released, though, we wanted to share a list of things you might encounter while loading up your saves after the Economy 2.0 patch; this post should explain in advance how your previous saves will be impacted so that there won’t be any surprises.
We have already published two Developer Diaries about what the Economy 2.0 patch contains. If you want to read them, you can find them here;
DD#1 - https://pdxint.at/3R8OSRY | DD#2 - https://pdxint.at/3yF8RBr
SAVES
- Saves from before the economy rework will still work but may require a transition period. This extensive rework will affect how the simulation runs and impact the saves you have been building on when the patch goes live on Patch Day. Read below on what takes time to take effect.
MODS
- With the new patch, there are no guarantees for modded saves; you will have to check for updates or instructions from modders.
- Mods affecting the simulation are likely impacted by the update.
Mods have to be updated to work with the new version of the game and its new functions. Please be patient with the modders that make the mods you love, and while some mod creators have been given Early Access to the patch to be able to update their mods, they might be unable to update them immediately. Please don't hound mod creators to update their mods; if they're able, they will update them as soon as they are able.
If you want to play the game without mods while you wait for mods to be patched, you can use a new playset empty of mods or temporarily add --disableModding to the game's Steam launch options to disable all mods.
WHAT WILL CHANGE?
By popular request, we're making the game less easy:
Government Subsidies are removed, and City Service upkeep costs are increased.
Are you relying on external City Services?
Cities relying on external services need to enable the Import City Services policy to continue using neighboring city services, which now come with a fee.
Upkeep Cost for Tiles
Tiles now have an Upkeep Cost, and if you have many tiles unlocked you will notice a major change to your budget. If you’re struggling to balance your budget after the patch but want to keep playing on the same save, we recommend enabling “Unlimited Money” in your saves Map Options. If you start a new map and enable the new Map Option "Unlock All Tiles", the tiles won't have an upkeep cost, and you won't have to pay 22,000,000 per month.
THIS TAKES SOME TIME TO TAKE EFFECT
Death Wave
There will be a Death Wave in your city lasting about 1-2 in-game months. The older your citizens are, the more severe it will be. This is because we want to vary the age at which citizens can die to avoid future death waves - but it will take a while as the Grim Reaper usually doesn't get so much paperwork all at once.
New Budget Calculations
Expect a negative money trend initially, but tax income may offset new costs after recalculations. If your city struggles financially, consider increasing taxes, reducing service budgets, or temporarily turning off buildings to save costs.
New Production and Employment Calculations
Companies need time to adjust production and employee numbers, potentially increasing unemployment.
New Demand Calculations
Demand adjustments may occur quickly, affecting demand bars, so don't be surprised if they are very different from before the patch. Increased industrial manufacturing space may drive up residential demand unless there are already job-seeking workers.
New Residential Demand Calculations
Don't be surprised if this new calculation causes citizens to seek different housing types or relocate after the patch.
New rent and Resource Consumption Calculations
These calculations should help citizens afford preferred housing, reducing "High Rent" notifications over time.
Do you still have "High Rent" notifications?
Persistent "High Rent" notifications even after an extended period of playing? This may indicate unemployment issues. Ensure citizens have jobs to pay rent.
We value your opinion on the development of Cities Skylines II and have, along with this patch, created a survey where you can add your opinions, concerns, and suggestions about Economy 2.0.
Once the patch is out, you can find this survey as one of the Tiles in the Cities: Skylines II Launcher!