Sweden-based Paradox Interactive (PDX.ST) revealed several products for a 2023 release at the Paradox Announcement Show.  The announcement included 3 full games, The Lamplighters League, Life By You and Cities: Skylines II. 

There were also expansion packs announced for Crusader Kings III and Europa Universalis IV.

Analysis

Cities: Skylines was a surprise success when it launched in 2015.  The city-building game was from a small developer in Finland, Colossal Order.  Cities: Skylines competed directly with the more established SimCity franchise from Electronic Arts.  It was a surprise when the game went on to supplant SimCity which had been around since 1989.

There have since been multiple expansions and ports of Cities: Skylines to console systems.  This included the Nintendo Switch in 2018 and recent releases for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.  Paradox claims it has sold over 12 million copies.  The new Cities: Skylines II launches “later this year” for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

One interesting note is that Paradox seems to be developing a close relationship with Microsoft and Game Pass.  The Lamplighters League launches for PC, Game Pass, and Xbox X/S but NOT PlayStation platforms.

Paradox Interactive premium games tend to be high-end grand strategy games that have appealed to a niche PC audience.  However, these are the type of cross-platform games that can take advantage of the PC to console gameplay that Microsoft Game Pass features.