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DLC and game purchases do not transfer between platforms under Paradox Interactive’s published policy: you need to buy the game and any desired add-ons for the destination platform. Save transfers are less clear. Community reports describe console-to-PC transfers as unavailable, but there is no official rule established here for every current platform pairing. Don’t switch expecting to keep your city unless Paradox confirms a route for your exact versions.

Does Cities: Skylines DLC transfer to another platform?

No. Paradox Interactive’s Helpdesk says a purchase cannot be transferred from one platform to another. Its example is explicit: someone who owns Cities: Skylines on PS4 and wants to play on PC needs to buy the PC version. The policy applies to purchases; do not assume DLC entitlements move with a Paradox account. Paradox Helpdesk: Can I transfer my DLC/switch platform?

Paradox’s add-ons catalog lists availability separately by platform, including Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Check the listing for the destination storefront and the specific add-ons you want, because catalog availability can change. Cities: Skylines add-ons catalog

Can you transfer a save file?

There is no confirmed universal answer for every combination of PC storefronts and console versions. Community discussions from 2020–2021 report that console saves cannot be transferred to PC, but those reports are not an official, exhaustive compatibility rule. The available evidence does not establish a supported save-conversion process.

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#1 Best Overall
Cities: Skylines [Online Game Code]
  • Multi-tiered simulation: Playing as the mayor of your city you’ll be faced with balancing essential requirements such as education, water electricity, police, fire fighting, healthcare and much more along with your citys real economy system.
  • Extensive local traffic simulation: Colossal Orders extensive experience developing the Cities in Motion series is fully utilized in a fully fleshed out and well-crafted transport systems.
  • Districts and Policies: Be more than just an administrator from city hall. Designating parts of your city as a district results in the application of policies which results in you rising to the status of Mayor for your own city.
  • Extensive modding support: Build or improve on existing maps and structures. You can then import them into the game, share them as well as download the creations of other city builders on the Steam workshop.

In practical terms, treat a save as non-transferable unless Paradox confirms that your exact source and destination versions support migration. A Paradox account link or ownership of the game on both platforms is not evidence that a save will follow.

Best Value
Cities Skylines (PS4)
  • Build the city of your dreams: Plan road networks, bus lines and parks. Bring on a smog-filled industrial revolution or create a quiet beach town ideal for tourists powered by renewable energy. Bring education, healthcare and safety to your citizens. Build it your way!
  • Multi-tiered and challenging simulation: Playing as the mayor of your city, you'll be faced with balancing essential requirements such as education, water electricity, police, firefighting, healthcare and much more, along with your city's economy. Citizens within your city react fluidly, keeping you on your toes with ever-evolving demands. Extensive local traffic simulation: Managing traffic and the needs of your citizens to work and play will require the use of several interactive transport systems - use careful road planning alongside buses, trains, subways, and much more
  • Districts and policies: Be more than just another city hall official! Create a car-free downtown area, assign free public transport to your waterfront, or ban pets in suburbia. Designate parts of your city as a district in order to set policy at the local level, and give different parts of town their own personalities
  • After Dark included: Watch your city become an entirely different place at night: a day-night cycle will have your citizens seeking out places to unwind after work. Add in new policies and zones to create popular hotspots and provide enough taxis and trains to get to and from the clubs!
Rank #3
Cities Skylines: Parklife Edition (PlayStation 4) (PS4)
  • Build the city of your dreams: bring on a smog-filled industrial Revolution or create a quiet Beach town ideal for tourists powered by renewable energy. Build it your way!
  • Multi-tiered and challenging simulation: playing as the mayor of your city, you'll be faced with balancing essential requirements such as education, water electricity and much more, along with your city's economy.
  • extensive local traffic simulation: managing traffic and the needs of your citizens to work and play will require the use of several interactive transport systems.
  • districts and policies: be more than just another city Hall official! Create a car-free downtown area, assign free public transport to your waterfront, or ban pets in suburbia.
  • after Dark included: watch your city become an entirely different place at night: a day-night cycle will have your citizens seeking out places to unwind after work.use the new Park area tool to create Park districts wherever there is empty land, and new city services like Park maintenance, which boosts happiness and effectiveness and helps level up parks.customize your city with new buildings and assets, including a new sightseeing bus line, new service buildings, new unique buildings like Amusement parks, nature reserves, city parks and zoos.customize routes and set ticket prices for new Walking and sightseeing tours, among other tourism enhancements.take on three new city policies and eight new Park policies
Rank #2
Cities: Skylines II - PlayStation 5
  • Deep Simulation: Make choices that have ripple effects across the city. Intricate AI and economic systems mean players will need to strategize, problem solve and react to changes, challenges and opportunities.
  • Epic Scale, Endless Possibilities: Build a thriving metropolis without compromise. In Cities: Skylines II, players will be able to build sky-high and across the map to realize their dream city like never before.
  • Cities That Come Alive: Follow the lives of individual citizens, from love and loss to wealth and well-being. Player decisions will shape the lives of their city’s citizens.
  • A Dynamic World: Pick a map to set the climate and biome of the city. These natural forces will shape the growth of players’ cities as they contend with rising pollution, changeable weather and seasonal challenges.
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What to check before switching platforms

  1. Identify both ends precisely. Write down the source and destination platforms and storefronts—for example, Xbox console to Steam, or one PC storefront to another. “PC” or “console” alone may not identify the relevant pairing.
  2. Check the destination catalog. Confirm that the game and each required DLC are available for that platform in Paradox’s add-ons catalog.
  3. Ask about the exact save pairing. If keeping your city matters, contact Paradox support with the game editions and platforms involved. The published purchase policy does not establish a save-transfer route.
  4. Back up the original save. Keep an untouched copy before attempting any file-level workaround. The sources do not document an official cross-platform conversion workflow.
  5. Plan for separate purchases. Under Paradox’s policy, buying the destination copy does not move the original game or DLC purchases; check the destination edition before buying.

What transfers—and what does not

Item What to expect when changing platforms
Base game purchase Does not transfer under Paradox’s published policy; buy it for the destination platform. Paradox Helpdesk
DLC purchase or entitlement Do not expect it to transfer; check availability and ownership on the destination platform. Paradox Helpdesk
City save No universal official transfer rule is established here. Community reports say console-to-PC transfers are unavailable; verify the exact pairing with Paradox.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.