Cities: Skylines

Must-Save! 2023 Final Edition! EPIC Cities: Skylines All DLC Activation Tutorial

AIenTen·7/18/2025

Preface (Must Read)

1. If you encounter game or activation issues, please refer to the Common Questions & Q&A at the end of the article.

2. Since unlocking all DLCs requires higher computer specifications, if you encounter 'OOPS errors' or 'game loading crashes,' these issues are mostly due to insufficient memory allocation. Please enable virtual memory in your system.

3. This tutorial is only for learning/exchange/experience purposes. Those who can afford it, please support the official version of Cities: Skylines.

4. This tutorial applies to EPIC Cities: Skylines (official version) and some EPIC games. For the Steam version, please message the UP with the keyword: 'Steam·CSLJH' to get the activation tutorial/information.

EPIC Version (For Official Use)

Part 1: Prerequisites

Visit the Paradox (P社) official website: https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/

Register and log in to a Paradox account. This step is a prerequisite for activating DLCs.

Part 2: Basics

Open EPIC, go to 'Library,' and launch 'Cities: Skylines.'

After launching, an interface will appear. Find the 'Log In' option in the upper right corner and complete the account login.

Note: If the launcher interface differs from the above, please update to the latest launcher version while connected to the internet.

Paradox Launcher Update Guide

  1. When the 'gear' icon in the lower left corner of the launcher is spinning, it indicates the launcher is downloading update files.
  2. After the update is downloaded, an 'orange' dot will appear on the 'bell' icon in the upper right corner (indicating the update is ready).
  3. The launcher will then display an orange-edged sidebar on the right. Click 'RESTART LAUNCHER' or 'Restart Launcher' to install the update and restart the launcher.
  4. If the launcher downloads updates slowly, use an accelerator to speed up the download. It usually takes 5-10 minutes to complete.
  5. If the launcher update is slow, try updating during off-peak hours or use an accelerator. Without an accelerator, it's recommended to update between 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM.

Note: Before activation, launch Cities: Skylines, connect to the internet, and log in to your registered Paradox account. During this process, only log in to the account and do nothing else, then exit the game.

Part 3: Key Steps

Open the 'Cities_Data\Plugins' folder and rename 'EOSSDK-Win64-Shipping.dll' (size: 12423KB) to 'EOSSDK-Win64-Shipping_o.dll.'

Note: Add '_o' (without quotes) after 'ping.' It's a lowercase 'o,' not the number '0.'

Extract the compressed file (do not extract it online via Baidu; download it first and then extract it). After extraction, open the crack patch folder.

Copy the file named 'EOSSDK-Win64-Shipping.dll' from the activation package to the 'Cities_Data\Plugins' folder (i.e., the folder where Cities: Skylines is stored).

In other words, copy EOSSDK-Win64-Shipping.dll into the Plugins folder.

At this point, the key steps are complete. Next, install the Microsoft C++ runtime libraries. Download and install the x64 version.

After installing the runtime libraries, launch the game to see the results.

Final Step: Results

Note:

  1. Ensure a stable internet connection; you must be online.
  2. The launcher and game account must remain 'logged in.'
  3. You must use the EPIC client to launch 'Cities: Skylines.'

Resource Links

Baidu Netdisk Activation Package: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1tBwhiyW6Nn4IN9WkQ8HSIA

Baidu Netdisk Extraction Code: 3qxx

Microsoft C++ Runtime Libraries: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-GB/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170

Common Questions & Q&A

Q: Baidu Netdisk link is invalid? Can't open it?

A: After copying the link, remove the Bilibili tail, and it will work.

Q: Can newly released DLCs/updates still be activated?

A: They can generally be activated smoothly. New DLCs (e.g., Financial Districts DLC, Map Packs DLC...) can all be activated.

Q: After the game updates, the patch becomes invalid (DLC needs to be obtained). What should I do if activation fails?

A: Reapply the crack patch by overwriting the files in the Plugins folder.

Q: The launcher takes too long to download updates. What should I do?

A: Use an accelerator to speed up the Paradox launcher or Cities: Skylines (main game). If updating without an accelerator, avoid peak network hours.

Q: Can I use a domestic email to register a Paradox account?

A: Yes, most domestic emails are supported. If you don't receive the verification email, try using Gmail (Google Mail) instead.

Q: Cities: Skylines crashes during game loading?

A: Enable 'virtual memory' on your computer. Also, check if your PC/laptop meets the system requirements.