Cities Skylines on Switch 2: What You Can and Can’t Customize
On the Switch 2, Cities: Skylines lets you customize almost everything about your city’s layout, roads, districts, policies, and visual details, but it does not support the Steam Workshop, so custom assets and mods are unavailable. You can still edit the terrain, place buildings individually, name districts and roads, and tweak a wide range of gameplay options, but you cannot import player-created content or use the deep modding tools found on PC.
Background: Console vs. PC Versions
Cities: Skylines was originally a PC game, where mods and custom assets are a huge part of the experience. The console versions, including the one for Nintendo Switch, are based on the same core simulation but are built as a separate product. The Switch 2 version is expected to follow the same pattern as the current Switch and other console releases: it includes the base game and several expansion packs, but it does not have a mod browser or a way to download user-created content.
The Switch 2’s improved hardware may allow for more stable performance and larger city sizes compared to the original Switch, but the fundamental customization limits remain. The game’s publisher, Paradox Interactive, has not announced any plans to bring Steam Workshop support to any console, so the Switch 2 version will likely remain a closed ecosystem.
What You Can Customize
Even without mods, Cities: Skylines on Switch 2 offers a deep level of control over how your city looks and functions. Here are the main customization options you’ll have:
- Roads and highways: You can draw roads of various sizes, add lanes, create roundabouts, and upgrade to highways. You can also set road names and choose between different road types (e.g., two-lane, four-lane, with or without bus lanes).
- Zones: You decide where residential, commercial, industrial, and office zones go. You can also set district styles (e.g., European or North American) if you own the relevant DLC.
- Buildings: You can place individual buildings (like schools, police stations, parks, and unique buildings) manually, and you can also use the “bulldoze� tool to remove any structure. Some unique buildings come with the base game and DLCs, and you can place them anywhere.
- District and policy settings: You can draw district boundaries and apply policies like “Smoke Detectors� or “Pet Ban� to specific areas. You can also set district names and choose a district style.
- Terrain and water: The game includes terrain tools that let you raise, lower, flatten, and smooth the ground. You can also place water sources and change the water level.
- Visual toggles: You can change the time of day, toggle day/night cycle, and adjust the map theme (e.g., temperate, tropical, boreal).
- City name and emblem: You can rename your city and create a custom emblem using a simple editor.
What You Can’t Customize
The biggest limitation is the absence of mods and custom assets. On PC, players can download thousands of user-made buildings, vehicles, maps, and gameplay tweaks from the Steam Workshop. On Switch 2, none of that is available. Specifically, you cannot:
- Use mods: There is no mod browser, and no way to install or activate mods. This means no unlimited money mods, no traffic manager tools, and no custom game mechanics.
- Import custom assets: You cannot add new buildings, parks, roads, or vehicles that aren’t already in the game or its DLCs. You are limited to the assets that come with the game.
- Edit the map in detail: While you can sculpt terrain, you cannot create custom maps from scratch. You must use one of the included maps, though you can modify them to a degree.
- Change asset colors or textures: You cannot recolor buildings or roads. The game uses fixed textures for each asset.
- Use the asset editor: The PC version includes an asset editor that lets you create your own buildings. This is not available on console.
How to Choose What to Customize
Given the limitations, you’ll want to focus your customization efforts on the things that have the biggest impact on gameplay and aesthetics. Here’s a practical approach:
- Start with the map: Choose a map that matches your play style. Some maps have more water, some have more hills. You can also use the terrain tools to flatten an area for a large industrial zone.
- Plan your road hierarchy: Use highways for long-distance travel, arterial roads for medium traffic, and local streets for neighborhoods. You can name roads to help you remember where things are.
- Use districts to control look: Draw a district over an area and set a style (e.g., “European� or “Self-Sufficient�). This changes the appearance of buildings and can affect traffic and land value.
- Place unique buildings strategically: Unique buildings provide city-wide benefits. For example, placing the “Monument� near your city center can boost tourism.
- Adjust policies per district: For example, enable “Heavy Traffic Ban� in residential neighborhoods to reduce noise, but keep it off in industrial areas.
Common Problems and Workarounds
Players often hit a few snags when customizing on console. Here are common issues and how to handle them:
- Can’t find a specific asset: The asset list is limited. If you can’t find a building you want, check if it’s part of a DLC you don’t own. You can also use the “parkâ€� or “leisureâ€� specialization to get different building types.
- Roads look ugly: Use the “Upgrade Roadâ€� tool to change a road’s type without demolishing it. Also, use the “Snapâ€� options to align roads at right angles.
- Terrain editing is too slow: Use the “Level Terrain� tool to flatten large areas quickly. Also, you can adjust the brush size and strength.
- District styles don’t apply: Make sure you have the correct DLC (e.g., “Cities: Skylines – Content Creator Pack: European Suburbiaâ€� or the base game’s “Europeanâ€� style). Also, the style only affects new buildings, not existing ones.
Comparison: Switch 2 vs. PC vs. Other Consoles
Compared to the PC version, the Switch 2 version is much more limited in customization. PC players have access to the Steam Workshop, which contains over 400,000 assets and mods. They can also use the in-game asset editor and mods like “Move It� to fine-tune every detail. The Switch 2 version is essentially the same as the PlayStation and Xbox versions, which also lack mod support. The main difference between Switch 2 and other consoles is performance: the Switch 2 is expected to handle larger cities with more stable frame rates than the original Switch, but the feature set remains the same.
Costs and DLC
Customization options expand significantly if you purchase DLCs. The base game includes a decent set of assets, but DLCs add new maps, buildings, and gameplay mechanics. For example, the “Campus� DLC adds university buildings, and the “Industries� DLC adds specialized industry buildings. On Switch 2, you can buy these individually or as a season pass. Prices vary, but you can expect to pay a similar amount to other console versions. There is no subscription required for the game itself, but you need an internet connection to download DLCs.
Safety and Performance Considerations
When customizing your city, keep in mind that the Switch 2’s hardware, while improved, is still less powerful than a gaming PC. Extremely large cities with many assets can cause frame rate drops. To avoid this, you can:
- Limit the number of unique buildings and parks you place.
- Avoid overusing the terrain tools, as they can increase processing load.
- Turn off the day/night cycle if you notice performance issues.
- Save your game regularly, as crashes can happen with large cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use mods on Cities: Skylines for Switch 2? No. The Switch 2 version does not support mods. You cannot download or install any mods, including simple ones like unlimited money or traffic management.
Can I import custom buildings from the Steam Workshop? No. The Steam Workshop is only available on PC. The Switch 2 version has no way to import custom assets.
Can I edit the map in Cities: Skylines on Switch 2? You can modify the terrain (raise, lower, flatten) and add water, but you cannot create a new map from scratch. You must choose from the included maps.
Are there any exclusive customization features on Switch 2? Not that have been announced. The Switch 2 version is expected to be the same as other console versions, with the same customization options and limitations.
Does the Switch 2 version include all DLCs? No, it includes the base game and possibly some DLCs, but not all. You will need to purchase additional DLCs separately.
Can I change the color of roads or buildings? No, you cannot change the color of assets. The game uses fixed textures for each asset.
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