Summarize in up to four sentences.: An upcoming video game is so realistic it simulates a homelessness crisis, getting laid off, and Gen Z going broke
Kai Xiang Teo
Tue, August 15, 2023 at 8:54 a.m. GMT-4·3 min read
Cities Skylines 2 developers: A household may be unable to make rent due to high Land Value or a low income
"A household may be unable to make rent due to high Land Value or a low income," said Cities Skylines 2's developers.Cities Skylines 2/Colossal Order
The developers of Cities Skylines 2 are trying to create "the most realistic city simulation ever."

Gameplay footage shows a simulation of Gen Z being broke, road accidents, and prison labor.

The simulated game echoes many socio-economic issues plaguing the youth today.

The developers of the upcoming video game Cities Skylines 2 say they're trying to make "the most realistic city simulation ever" — one which involves homelessness, Gen Z going broke, and tragic car accidents.

In-game households could plunge into homelessness if they are poor, are unable to find a new apartment, and lack funds to leave the city, the developers wrote in a blog post published Monday.

"In this case, they can live in the city parks until their living situation changes," said the game's development studio, Colossal Order.

But it's not all doom and gloom — the game presents these issues as solvable — if the cities are well planned.

A screenshot from upcoming video game Cities Skylines 2
A screenshot from the upcoming video game Cities Skylines 2.Cities Skylines 2/Colossal Order
On the flip side, mismanaging this virtual city could lead to a cascade of economic woes — from families being unable to pay rent, to sweeping layoffs and company bankruptcies, according to footage from the game's developers.

The game — which will be released on October 24 — allows players to build and simulate their own cities which "evolve and react" to player choices.

And player choices can make a city lean towards utopia or dystopia.

Cities Skylines 2's simulation "reacts" to player decisions through traffic accidents if there is a failure to maintain the city's roads well, trash piling up in city landfills, choking pollution from burning non-renewables, and sewage contaminating a city's water supply if disposed of poorly.

"Other vehicles give way if possible so emergency vehicles can reach their destination faster," said Cities Skylines 2's developers.
"Other vehicles give way if possible so emergency vehicles can reach their destination faster," said Cities Skylines 2's developers.Cities Skylines 2/Colossal Order
The developers previously released footage on the game's realistic elements, such as Gen Z being broke and prison labor.

"For teens the most important factor is money: they seek out cheap options when traveling, be it the means of transportation or parking behavior," the developers said in a blog post back in June, pointing to the need to build cheap transport for a city to accommodate its penniless youth.

Colossal Order's previous game, Cities Skylines, was released in 2015 and sold over 12 million copies till mid-2022. The game became the subject of many viral videos on YouTube.

One YouTube video published in 2018 features a content creator dumping a whole city's sewage into a volcano, drawing over 10 million viewers.

A video featuring a professional city planner using the game to design his ideal city and explaining the principles behind good urban planning accrued over 7.5 million views.


The game appears to simulate many socio-economic issues plaguing the youth today. Gen Z is grappling with the affordable housing crisis, a complicated financial future, and cities struggling with pollution and poor drinking water.

Colossal Order did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

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