How to Fix Cities Skylines 2 flickering

Cities Skylines 2 is an incredible game that offers an immersive city-building experience. However, some players have reported flickering issues while playing the game. The good news is that there are several workarounds you can try to resolve this problem and enhance your gaming experience. In this blog post, we will guide you through various methods to fix flickering in Cities Skylines 2.

Cities Skylines 2 is a popular city-building simulation game that allows players to create and manage their own virtual cities. With stunning graphics and detailed gameplay, it's no wonder that this game has gained a massive following. However, like any other game, Cities Skylines 2 is not immune to technical issues.

One common problem that players have encountered is flickering. Flickering refers to the rapid and irregular flashing or blinking of objects on the screen. This can be incredibly distracting and can take away from the overall gaming experience. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to address this issue and ensure a smoother gameplay experience.

Enable/Disable Vsync:

One of the simplest solutions to reduce flickering is by enabling or disabling Vsync (Vertical Sync) in the game settings. Vsync is a synchronization technique that helps prevent screen tearing by matching the frame rate of the game with the refresh rate of your monitor. This can potentially resolve flickering problems as it ensures a smoother and more consistent display.

To enable or disable Vsync in Cities Skylines 2, navigate to the game's settings menu. Look for an option related to Vsync or vertical sync and toggle it on or off, depending on your preference. Keep in mind that enabling Vsync may introduce a slight input lag, so if you're sensitive to that, consider disabling it.

Turn on Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA):

Another effective method to tackle flickering is by enabling Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) in the game's Advanced Anti-Aliasing settings. Anti-aliasing is a technique used to smooth out jagged edges and improve the overall visual quality of the game.

Temporal Anti-Aliasing, in particular, is known for its ability to reduce flickering issues. It achieves this by analyzing previous frames and applying a blend of anti-aliasing techniques to create a more stable and flicker-free image. To enable TAA, navigate to the game's graphics settings and look for the anti-aliasing options. Select Temporal Anti-Aliasing and apply the changes.

Disable Day/Night Cycle:

Some players have found that disabling the day/night cycle in Cities Skylines 2 reduces flickering problems significantly. The day/night cycle is a feature that simulates the passage of time, transitioning between day and night in the game. While this adds a realistic touch to the gameplay, it can also contribute to flickering issues, especially if the lighting effects are not properly optimized.

To disable the day/night cycle, go to the game's settings menu and look for an option related to time or day/night cycle. Toggle it off and see if it improves the flickering problem. Keep in mind that disabling the day/night cycle might change the overall visual experience of the game, as the lighting and ambiance will remain constant.

Adjust In-Game Settings:

Experimenting with different in-game settings can also help alleviate flickering issues. Play around with options such as shadows, lighting, texture quality, and particle effects to find a combination that works best for your system. Sometimes, certain settings can put a strain on your hardware, leading to performance issues and flickering.

Start by lowering the settings to the lowest possible and gradually increase them until you find a balance between visual quality and performance. Keep in mind that every system is different, so what works for one player may not work for another. Take the time to test different settings and see which ones help reduce flickering in your specific case.

Change Anti-Aliasing Methods:

If you're still experiencing flickering after trying the previous steps, consider changing the anti-aliasing method from within the game settings menu. Different anti-aliasing techniques like MSAA (Multisample Anti-Aliasing) or FXAA (Fast Approximate Anti-Aliasing) may yield better results depending on your setup.

MSAA is a more resource-intensive anti-aliasing method that provides better overall image quality but can impact performance. FXAA, on the other hand, is a faster but less precise anti-aliasing technique. Try switching between these options and see if it helps reduce flickering in Cities Skylines 2.

Turn on Constant Dynamic Resolution:

Enabling constant dynamic resolution is another option to explore if other methods haven't resolved the flickering problem. This feature adjusts the game's resolution dynamically to maintain a smooth frame rate. By lowering the resolution during intense scenes, it can potentially reduce flickering and improve overall performance.

To enable constant dynamic resolution, go to the game's graphics settings and look for an option related to resolution. Select the option for constant dynamic resolution and make sure it is set to a value that suits your preferences. Keep in mind that lowering the resolution may affect the visual quality of the game, so find a balance between performance and visual fidelity.

By following these guidelines, you should be able to mitigate or even eliminate flickering issues in Cities Skylines 2. Remember, these workarounds are temporary solutions until an official fix is provided by the developers. Enhance your gaming experience and enjoy building beautiful cities without any distracting flickering problems! Don't forget to ensure that you have the latest drivers and updates installed for both your graphics card and the game itself. Happy city-building!