Skylines 2 Dev Issues Update on Malware Incident

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 8, 2024 3 Views 6 Min Read
Skylines 2 Dev Issues Update on Malware Incident

Key Takeaways

  • Malicious malware targeted the Traffic mod in Cities: Skylines 2, specifically attacking Exodus crypto wallets.
  • A final update from Paradox Interactive was recently issued, emphasizing security risks in mods due to evolving malware.
  • Paradox recommends manual deletion of the secondary DLL file for users with an Exodus crypto wallet and plans to enhance mod security measures.



The popular city-building game Cities: Skylines 2 has recently been attacked by malicious malware corrupting the game’s Traffic mod, and publisher Paradox Interactive has shared a final update on the pressing issue. Mods continue to be an important part of the Cities: Skylines 2 experience while also being subject to malicious software. However, the team behind the game is driven to safeguard that corner of gameplay despite malware evolving at an alarming rate.

The sequel to the 2015 predecessor of the same name was released in 2023 and expands much of the first game’s simulation factors with enhanced traffic AI and management systems. A console release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S was initially targeting an October 2024 release, but the port has since been delayed. Increasing the population is an important goal in Cities: Skylines 2, but the entire experience can be severely affected when malicious malware is involved.


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Published on the Paradox Forum, the publisher recently posted a “Final Determination” update on the malware incident, summarizing an analysis of the event, offering security advice, and highlighting the steps being taken to further safeguard mods. News of Cities: Skylines 2’s malware incident was first reported at the start of November, revealing the game’s Traffic mod had been updated with a malicious file, and players who downloaded the mod between October 28 and 31 were encouraged to beef up their security. Paradox confirmed the account of the Traffic mod’s author had been compromised, but has since been secured, and no further tampering is expected to occur.


Cities: Skylines 2 Update Provides Final Determination on Traffic Mod Malware


Further reports confirmed the malware in Cities: Skylines 2 was targeting crypto wallets, and Paradox clarified the malicious DLL file searched for Exodus crypto wallets once it had been loaded by the game executable. For users who have an Exodus crypto wallet on their computer, Paradox recommended manually deleting the secondary DLL file and provided the correct path to seek out. Moving forward, Paradox confirmed there will always be security risks attached to mods, and the devs’ scanning tools cannot offer complete protection due to the rapid evolution of malware. However, the publisher confirmed devs were deliberating further security measures around mod publishing to “strike the right balance between security and usability.”


Developer Colossal Order shared an update on Cities: Skylines 2’s console versions and content, noting two creator packs were being delayed to Q4 2024. Additionally, the Bridges & Ports expansion was confirmed to be delayed to Q2 2025, and the team noted continued work on the game’s console versions with no new release date in sight.

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