"A quite beautiful compromise": The LEGO Skylines devs did consider brick by brick building, but decided it was too much fuss for players

LEGO Skylines, a new city-builder from Iceflake Studios and Paradox Interactive, blends LEGO aesthetics with familiar city-building mechanics. Players manage residences, businesses, and utilities while customizing prefabricated structures with decorative elements. The game’s approach prioritizes accessibility over granular control, a decision influenced by practical concerns rather than creative limitations.

The developers considered allowing brick-by-brick building but opted against it after testing. Producer Joanna Ronkanen explained that assembling even small LEGO models with a mouse and keyboard proved cumbersome, especially when managing an entire city. The team concluded that prefab customization offered a more balanced level of engagement without overwhelming players.

Game director Lasse Liljedahl hinted at deeper customization features arriving later in development. While specifics remain undisclosed, he emphasized that customizability is a core pillar of the game. The promise of future updates suggests players may eventually gain more control over building designs, though details are still under wraps.

Mod support for expanded building options is also a possibility, though not yet confirmed. Ronkanen noted that modding solutions are not currently a focus, leaving players to wonder if community tools might eventually bridge the gap between prefab and brick-by-brick construction.