{{Short description|Finnish video game developer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox company | name = Iceflake Studios | type = Subsidiary | industry = Video games | founded = {{Start date and age|2007|09|07}} | founders = {{unbulleted list |Lasse Liljedahl |Tapani Valkonen }} | parent = Paradox Interactive (2020-) | hq_location_city = Tampere | hq_location_country = Finland | key_people = Lasse Liljedahl (CEO) | website = https://www.iceflake.com }} '''Iceflake Studios''' (registered as '''Iceflake Studios Oy''') is a Finnish video game development studio that was founded in Tampere, Finland in 2007, and was acquired by Paradox Interactive in 2020. They have developed games for desktop, mobile, and console, as well as modifications to games. They are primarily known for developing Surviving the Aftermath, and taking over development of Cities: Skylines II in early 2026.
==History== Iceflake Studios was co-founded by Lasse Liljedahl and Tapani Valkonen on {{date|September 7, 2007|mdy}} in Tampere, Finland.<ref name="paradox-acquisition">{{cite web | title=Paradox Interactive Acquires Finland-based Iceflake Studios | website=Paradox Interactive | date=July 17, 2020 | url=https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/media/press-releases/press-release/paradox-interactive-acquires-finland-based-iceflake-studios | access-date=January 5, 2026}}</ref><ref name="registration">{{cite web | title=YTJ Tietopalvelu | website=YTJ Tietopalvelu | url=https://tietopalvelu.ytj.fi/yritys/2139029-8 | language=fi | access-date=January 5, 2026}}</ref> Prior to their founding, they developed a game modification for Battlefield 1942 called {{interlanguage link|FinnWars|fi}}. They initially developed small mobile games varying from golf and pool, to a puzzle game named ''Pirate Treasure'', and a platforming game named ''Panzer Jumper''.<ref name="primary-old">{{cite web | title=Iceflake Studios | website=Iceflake Studios | url=https://www.iceflake.com/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206184853/https://www.iceflake.com/index.html | archive-date=February 6, 2014 | url-status=live | access-date=January 5, 2026}}</ref> Their first non-mobile game, ''Ice Lakes'', was released on Steam in 2016.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Ice Lakes, by Iceflake Studios - An Indie Game Review|url=https://indiegamereviewer.com/review-ice-lakes/|website=Indie Game Reviewer - The Best Indie Games|date=2016-08-01|access-date=2026-01-29|language=en-US|first=Amanda|last=Bower}}</ref>
===Surviving the Aftermath=== {{Main|Surviving the Aftermath}} ''Surviving the Aftermath'' was Iceflake Studios' first game to receive a metacritic score, receiving mixed reviews.<ref name="metacritic-surviving">{{cite web | title=Surviving the Aftermath critic reviews | website=Metacritic | date=June 10, 2022 | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/surviving-the-aftermath/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref> Paradox Interactive, the game's publisher, posted a teaser for the game on October 7, 2019. It was announced to be in early access on October 19, 2019 at PDXCON,<ref name=":1">{{cite web | last=Crowley | first=Nate | title=Surviving the Aftermath is out now | website=Rock Paper Shotgun | date=October 19, 2019 | url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/surviving-the-aftermath-is-out-in-early-access-today | access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref> and was publicly released on November 16, 2021.<ref name="n104">{{cite web | last=Brown | first=Andy | title='Surviving The Aftermath' trailer reveals full launch date for the apocalyptic title | website=NME | date=October 27, 2021 | url=https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/surviving-the-aftermath-trailer-reveals-full-launch-date-for-the-apocalyptic-title-3080635 | access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref> In March 2023 Paradox announced ''Rebirth'', the third DLC expansion pack for Surviving the Aftermath.<ref>{{cite web | last=GiN | first=Special to | title=Paradox Interactive Launches Their Third Expansion for Surviving the Aftermath | website=Game Industry News | date=March 31, 2023 | url=https://www.gameindustry.com/news-industry-happenings/paradox-interactive-launches-their-third-expansion-for-surviving-the-aftermath/ | access-date=January 7, 2026}}</ref>
===Paradox acquisition=== On July 17, 2020, Paradox announced they would be acquiring Iceflake Studios, making it their ninth internal studio.<ref name="paradox-acquisition"></ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Goh | first=Clement | title=Paradox Interactive buys Iceflake Studios. | website=CGMagazine | date=July 17, 2020 | url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/paradox-interactive-iceflake-studio/ | access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref>
Charlotta Nilsson, the COO of Paradox at the time, said "The collaborative efforts{{nbsp}}... with Iceflake have given us all the confidence that this is a natural fit. Surviving the Aftermath fits the Paradox portfolio perfectly" within the announcement of the acquisition.<ref name="m845">{{cite web | last=Romano | first=Sal | title=Paradox Interactive acquires Surviving the Aftermath developer Iceflake Studios | website=Gematsu | date=July 17, 2020 | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/07/paradox-interactive-acquires-surviving-the-aftermath-developer-iceflake-studios | access-date=January 7, 2026}}</ref>
==Cities: Skylines II transfer== {{Main|Cities: Skylines II}}
On November 17, 2025, Paradox announced that they and Colossal Order, original developer of Cities: Skylines II, would mutually "pursue independent paths".<ref>{{cite web | title=An Update on Cities: Skylines II | website=Paradox Interactive Forums | date=November 17, 2025 | url=https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/an-update-on-cities-skylines-ii.1873154/ | access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref> As a result, development of Cities: Skylines II moved to Iceflake at the beginning of 2026.<ref>{{cite web | last=Dawe | first=Liam | title=Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive split with Cities: Skylines going to a new developer | website=GamingOnLinux | date=November 17, 2025 | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/11/colossal-order-and-paradox-interactive-split-with-cities-skylines-going-to-a-new-developer/ | access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Erskine | first=Donovan | title=Cities: Skylines development moves to Iceflake Studios | website=Shacknews | date=November 17, 2025 | url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/146853/cities-skylines-series-new-developer | access-date=January 7, 2026}}</ref>
The announcement disclosed that Iceflake would be responsible for the planned console releases, though Paradox did not announce a delay nor an anticipated release window.<ref>{{cite web | last=Carcasole | first=David | title=Colossal Order Is Splitting From Paradox Interactive and Leaving Cities Skylines Behind, Iceflake Studios Will Take Over | website=Wccftech | date=November 17, 2025 | url=https://wccftech.com/cities-skylines-developed-by-iceflake-studios-amidst-paradox-interactive-colossal-order-split/ | access-date=January 7, 2026}}</ref> Some speculate this separation was influenced by Cities: Skylines II's poor release, reception, and ongoing development issues with Colossal.<ref name="thegamer-newdev">{{cite web | last=Coulson | first=Josh | title=The Cities: Skylines Series Will Live On Under A New Studio Following The Sequel's Rocky Launch | website=TheGamer | date=November 17, 2025 | url=https://www.thegamer.com/cities-skylines-changes-developer-studio-colossal-iceflake-paradox/ | access-date=January 7, 2026}}</ref>
Paradox's CEO at the time, Mattias Lilja, stated in the announcement they "...have deep respect for the Colossal Order team and we look forward to seeing where they go from here".<ref name="thegamer-newdev"></ref>
==Games== ===List of games=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! class="unsortable" | Title !Publisher!! class="unsortable" | Platform(s) |- | 2012 || ''Epic Speed Pro''<ref name="primary-old" /> | rowspan="10" |Iceflake Studios|| Android, Windows Phone |- | 2012 || ''Panzer Jumper''<ref name="primary-old" />|| Windows Phone |- | 2013 || ''Pirate Treasure''<ref name="primary-old" />|| Windows Phone, Android, iOS |- | 2013 || ''Premium Pool''<ref name="primary-old" />|| Windows Phone, Windows 8 |- | 2014 || ''Pirates Don't Run''<ref name="primary-old" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Pirates Don't Run Windows, iOS, iPad, Android, AndroidTab game|website=ModDB|date=March 21, 2012|url=https://www.moddb.com/games/pirates-dont-run|access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref>|| Windows 8, Android, iOS |- | 2014 || ''Premium Minigolf''<ref name="primary-old" />|| Windows Phone |- | 2014 || ''Target Horizon''<ref name="primary-old" />|| Android |- | 2016 || ''Ice Lakes''<ref name="primary-old" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jagneaux |first=David |date=2016-10-28 |title='Ice Lakes' Isn't The VR Fishing Game of Your Dreams, But It's Surprisingly Deep |url=https://www.uploadvr.com/ice-lakes-vr/ |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=UploadVR |language=en}}</ref>|| Windows, MacOS, Linux |- | 2017 || ''Race Arcade''<ref name="primary-old" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Watton |first=Neil |date=2017-08-16 |title=Race Arcade Review |url=https://www.thexboxhub.com/race-arcade-review/ |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=TheXboxHub |language=en-GB}}</ref>|| Windows, MacOS, Linux, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |- | 2017 || ''Premium Pool Arena''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-21 |title=Review: Premium Pool Arena (Nintendo Switch) – Digitally Downloaded |url=https://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2018/02/review-premium-pool-arena-nintendo.html |access-date=2026-04-04 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Nintendo Switch Games This Week Include Dragon Quest Builders |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-nintendo-switch-games-this-week-include-dragon/1100-6456655/ |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref>|| Windows, MacOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |- | 2021 || ''Surviving the Aftermath''<ref name=":1" /> | rowspan="2" |Paradox Interactive|| Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |- |2026 |''Cities: Skylines II''<ref name=":02">{{cite web |author=Steam|date=6 March 2023|title=Cities Skylines II on Steam|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/949230/Cities_Skylines_II|accessdate=6 March 2023|publisher=Steam}}</ref> |Windows, planned for Xbox Series X and Series S and PS5 |} ==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.iceflake.com}}
Category:Video game companies established in 2007 Category:Video game companies of Finland Category:Video game development companies Category:Paradox Interactive Category:Companies based in Tampere Category:Finnish companies established in 2007