Colossal Order exits Paradox, will self-fund its next PC simulation game
Summary
Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive ended a 15-year, four-game publishing partnership in November 2025.
Cities: Skylines II development moved to Paradox-owned Iceflake Studios in early 2026.
CEO Mariina Hallikainen says the studio can now finance development without a publisher's money.
A new PC simulation game is already in development, with no details disclosed.
"We have the funding and the backing, so we don't need the publisher support in the same way as we used to."
01
Colossal Order hands Cities: Skylines to Paradox's Iceflake Studios
Colossal Order and Paradox ended a 15-year, four-game relationship in November 2025.
Cities: Skylines II development moved to Paradox-owned Iceflake Studios in early 2026.
The split followed years of post-launch support that Hallikainen says was ending.
"Do we actually want to continue working on this for another ten years, or do something else."
02
Hallikainen recasts publisher backing as an optional service the studio can now do without
The studio's own funding now covers what publisher financing previously provided.
Self-publishing and signing a new partner both remain live options.
Collaboration, open communication and trust are her stated criteria for any future publisher.
No investor, credit line, or revenue figure supports the funding claim.
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Independence runs on foreign talent hired outside Helsinki
About 30% of Colossal Order's staff comes from abroad by deliberate strategy.
The studio competes on long-term projects and environment while offering below Helsinki-level salaries.
Tampere's remote location makes relocation-ready candidates easier to hire than settled Helsinki developers.
"It's actually easier for us to get experienced developers to join from abroad than for example from Helsinki."
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The next game carries no disclosed budget, headcount, or window
The new title is a PC simulation game, already in development.
No marketing, distribution, or platform-relations plan replaces Paradox's former publisher functions.
"We will be sharing what it is later in time, but it's not time yet."
What this means
For Investors & VC: No named backer or revenue figure supports the self-funding claim - flag as a diligence gap.
For Service Vendors: An unpublished studio with no publisher opens BD room for distribution and platform-relations support.
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