The CEO of Colossal Order, the development studio responsible for Cities: Skylines 2, has taken a stand against the issue of toxicity within the game's community. She emphasized the potential damage that the negative behavior directed at developers and community members could inflict upon Cities: Skylines 2.

Cities: Skylines 2 was launched in October 2023 in a less-than-satisfactory state. A considerable number of fans expressed their disappointment, citing various reasons why the sequel did not live up to the original Cities: Skylines. The absence of an editor tool upon release was a major letdown for many. While Colossal Order is diligently working to enhance the game and restore it to the level of the original Cities: Skylines, some members of the community grew increasingly impatient, venting their frustration on developers and fellow community members. In response, Colossal Order appears committed to revitalizing its community.

Mariina Hallikainen, CEO of Colossal Order, shared her latest 'Word of the Week' to update fans on the studio's ongoing efforts. As part of this communication, she addressed the escalating negativity pervading the Cities: Skylines 2 community. She underlined that this toxicity would only have adverse long-term effects on the game, as it could make fans more reluctant to engage with others in the community. This not only jeopardizes the overall atmosphere among community members but also dampens enthusiasm for creativity and modding in Cities: Skylines 2, both integral to the game's community.

Hallikainen further pointed out that toxicity could severely strain the relationship between developers and the community, potentially dissuading some Colossal Order employees from participating in community interactions. She proposed a couple of potential remedies at the conclusion of her announcement, such as heightened moderation or reduced interaction between developers and community members.

Hallikainen also urged community members to provide feedback on the game but stressed that it should be constructive and specific. She also addressed the highly requested Editor UI tool, one of the features absent from Cities: Skylines 2 at launch, and provided an update on its progress. The Editor UI is expected to be available for the game's closed beta in a few weeks, although the studio is still diligently ironing out some crucial details.

The absence of features like the Editor UI led many fans to regard Cities: Skylines 2 as one of the most disappointing games of 2023. Nonetheless, considering how other titles like Cyberpunk 2077 managed to rebuild their reputation through updates and expansions, there is still a window for the game to regain the support of its community.