Paradox Interactive Archives

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November 27, 2025

Bloodlines 2’s disastrous $37 million write-down “lies fully” with Paradox, says its CEO, as the controversial VTM game flops

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has a 56% lifetime rating on Steam and has sold approximately 121,500 copies, generating around million in net revenue. Paradox Interactive will not develop a sequel, Bloodlines 3, and has written down SEK 355 million on the game's development costs. The game has been criticized for lacking a coherent sequel experience, a compelling narrative, and suffering from technical glitches and chaotic combat mechanics. Paradox's CEO acknowledged miscalculations in sales expectations, stating the game is outside their core areas. Despite setbacks, two DLCs, Loose Cannon and The Flower and The Flame, are planned for release in 2026. The World of Darkness franchise has struggled with recent video game adaptations, with few achieving notable success.

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November 22, 2025

Cities: Skylines 2’s bicycle update adds a lot more than just bikes, as Colossal Order prepares to hand over development to a new studio

Colossal Order is transitioning the development of Cities: Skylines 2 to Iceflake Studios. Before this handover, a new bike patch has been introduced, adding bicycles and electric scooters to the game, along with infrastructure for a bicycle-friendly environment. Players can now create dedicated bicycle paths and lanes, and various types of bike parks have been added for secure parking. The update also includes a new campfire area, business plazas, and new transportation buildings such as a train depot, railway terminus station, cargo transfer station, and three new tram stations. Additionally, two new types of wind turbines and a small cemetery have been introduced. Colossal Order plans to implement Asset Mods before the official transition at the beginning of next year, after which Iceflake Studios will take over development. The reasons for this transfer remain unclear, but Paradox Interactive has a history of reallocating projects among developers.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Cities Skylines 2 dev announces split from Paradox, new studio will take over development

Paradox Interactive has ended its partnership with Colossal Order, the studio behind the Cities Skylines series for 15 years, due to disappointing reviews for recent titles. Colossal Order will continue to support the game until the end of the year, after which Iceflake Studios will take over development in 2026. Iceflake's responsibilities will include patches, ongoing work on the Editor and console editions, and future expansions. The core identity of Cities: Skylines 2 will remain unchanged despite the developer transition. Iceflake Studios has a background in mobile games and has received mixed reviews for its city-building game, Surviving the Aftermath.

AppWizard

November 8, 2025

Surviving Mars: Relaunched is a solid but inessential remaster for one of the best city builders around, but I’m extremely excited about what comes next

Surviving Mars: Relaunched is a remaster of the original game released in 2018 by Haemimont Games and Paradox Interactive, which received positive reviews and an 80% rating. The remaster includes significant enhancements, such as improved underground maps, a refined train system, and quality-of-life improvements. A new engine has been developed to enhance visuals and performance, allowing for future DLC without the constraints of the original game. Upcoming expansions include Feeding the Future, focusing on food production, and Machine Utopia, introducing automated colonies. The Martian Assembly expansion is included from the start, allowing players to pass laws for benefits and choose political systems. The relaunch aims to attract both new players and previous ones, although the value for seasoned players may be less clear due to the upgrade fee.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Europa Universalis 5 review

Paradox Tinto, a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive, will release a new historical strategy game on November 4, 2025. The game is priced at a premium level and has been reviewed on a high-performance setup with a Radeon RX 6800 XT graphics card, Ryzen 9 5900 processor, and 32GB of RAM. Compatibility with the Steam Deck is not yet disclosed.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Europa Universalis 5 is an instant grand strategy classic and developer Paradox at its best

Europa Universalis 5 is a grand strategy game set in early modern history, developed by Paradox Interactive, and is scheduled for release on November 4, 2025, for PC. It features familiar mechanics from previous titles, such as production methods from Victoria 3 and ruler dynamics from Imperator, while introducing significant changes like a more tangible population model that affects productivity and military capacity. The game emphasizes strategic depth with a focus on realistic resource management, military costs, and the implications of warfare. Players can govern a vast map with diverse nations and engage with landless nations for unique economic strategies. The AI presents new challenges, and while accessibility features are limited, the game remains approachable for new players.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

Europa Universalis 2’s launch was a desperate gambit for Paradox’s survival: ‘It needs to be done so it’s sold in the US market before Christmas, because we need the money else we cannot pay people’

Europa Universalis was developed under significant pressure, with tight deadlines and a focus on survival. Johan Andersson, the lead developer, noted that the team quickly generated ideas for Europa Universalis 2 to ensure its release before Christmas to secure funding. The original game allowed players to select from a limited number of scenarios, which led to interest in broader gameplay. Henrik Fåhraeus, a mod maker who proposed making any country playable, was hired as a content designer for the sequel and later became chief creative officer at Paradox Interactive. Upon its release, Europa Universalis 2 received good reviews, but distribution was initially limited to Germany, affecting its audience reach. Despite challenges, a dedicated community formed around the game, with fans ordering it from Germany to play.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

Before Paradox became king of grand strategy, it made a Baldur’s Gate-inspired RPG doomed by ‘bugs, many and diverse, some more interesting than the gameplay’

Paradox Interactive initially ventured into various game genres before establishing its identity in grand strategy games. One of its early games, Valhalla Chronicles, released in 2003, was criticized for having "bugs, many and diverse, some more interesting than the gameplay." This experience contributed to the studio's evolution and understanding of player preferences.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’s biggest mistake is being called Bloodlines 2

The World of Darkness tabletop role-playing game introduces the concept of a 'true name,' which reflects the essence of an identity. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 may be misnamed, as it diverges from expectations set by its title. The game immerses players in the atmosphere of Vampire: The Masquerade, featuring enjoyable combat with elder vampire powers. However, it has formulaic elements that can make it forgettable, and nostalgic references to Bloodlines 1 may feel irrelevant or irritating. The game's development involved The Chinese Room's vision, while Paradox's decision to attach the Bloodlines name may have created unrealistic expectations. Players expecting a sequel to Bloodlines 1 may be disappointed, but when viewed as a standalone title, Bloodlines 2 is a commendable effort within the Vampire: The Masquerade universe.

AppWizard

October 25, 2025

Europa Universalis lead Johan Andersson says Paradox’s DLC model has been ‘pretty f***ing great’: ‘You decide what’s going in, you decide the scope, you decide exactly when you can release’

Paradox Interactive is known for its 4X and grand strategy games, particularly for its downloadable content (DLC) strategy. Johan Andersson, the lead for Europa Universalis V, is confident in the DLC model, stating it has been effective. The company has grown from a small team to hundreds of employees with five internal development teams, allowing game directors more control over release timing and content scope. Early expansions faced challenges, with some, like Mare Nostrum, receiving mixed reactions. Andersson reassured players that features from Europa Universalis IV will largely carry over to Europa Universalis V. He believes EU5 will serve as a long-term platform for future content development.