To download the SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow expansion, you must first own the base SimCity (2013)
game. It is an add-on, not a standalone title, and is typically managed through the (formerly Origin). Where to Download Official Store : You can purchase the expansion directly from the Official EA Store
. Once bought, it should appear in your library under the "Expansions" tab for Third-Party Retailers
: Digital keys for the EA app are available from retailers like Instant Gaming Bundle Options SimCity: Complete Edition , available on platforms like the Microsoft Store , includes the base game along with the Cities of Tomorrow expansion. How to Install Redeem Key : If you purchased from a third-party site, open the , go to your , and select Redeem Code Locate Expansion : Click on the SimCity base game in your library. Use the button to see Cities of Tomorrow Automatic Sync
: The expansion typically downloads automatically as an update to your main game. You will know it is active if you see MegaTowers options in the city specialisation menu. Expansion Highlights Can't download SimCity expansion pack (Cities of tomorrow). 20 Nov 2017 —
Released in late 2013, this is the only major expansion pack for the 2013 SimCity reboot. It drastically changes the gameplay loop by pushing the timeline 50–100 years into the future.
Key Features:
The base game’s map size was heavily criticized. Cities of Tomorrow solved this by building up. MegaTowers allow you to stack residential units on top of commercial blocks, topped with penthouses. You can fit 60,000 sims into a single tower footprint. This is the main reason the community insists on finding a new download—it literally doubles your city capacity.
The expansion introduces a living storyline through ControlNet.
Let’s be clear: SimCity 5 (2013) is always-online DRM. You cannot simply find a standalone .exe file and run it. The game authenticates with EA servers via the EA App (formerly Origin).
Therefore, the phrase "download simcity 5 cities of tomorrow new" actually means: "How do I purchase and install the latest, most stable version of this expansion legally?"
The heart of the expansion lies in a brilliant binary choice. You no longer just zone residential, commercial, and industrial. You must now decide the future of that zoning.
The OmegaCo Path (The Corporate Dystopia): This is the "shiny chrome" future. By building an OmegaCo factory, you create a new resource: Omega. Factories that use Omega produce goods faster and more efficiently. Your city becomes a hyper-capitalist paradise—gleaming towers, low unemployment, massive tax revenue. The catch? Citizens become addicted to the lifestyle. If the Omega supply chain breaks, your city collapses into rioting and poverty. You are essentially building a company town run by a benevolent (or not-so-benevolent) megacorp.
The Academy Path (The Eco-Utopia): This is the "clean green" future. The Academy unlocks futuristic tech like the Fusion Reactor (unlimited, pollution-free power) and the Soil Purifier. But its signature is ControlNet. This is a wireless resource that allows buildings to share processing power and utilities. A ControlNet-enabled water pump can talk to a ControlNet-enabled sewage plant to optimize flow. The endgame is the MegaTower—a self-contained vertical arcology that houses thousands of citizens, uses zero ground space, and recycles all its own waste.
The genius of Cities of Tomorrow is that you can mix these paths. A truly clever mayor builds an OmegaCo industrial sector to fund an Academy-based residential utopia. Or they create a nightmare where the rich live in clean ControlNet spires while the factory workers toil in Omega-fueled smog below.
Because the game is over a decade old, even a "new" download can run into old problems.
Error: "Unable to download Cities of Tomorrow – Server is busy"
Error: "Missing Cities of Tomorrow content in game"
Documents/SimCity/). Delete the Locale file. Restart the game. The game sometimes forgets you own the DLC. This forces a re-sync.Error: "Lag spikes with MegaTowers"
Ready to build the future? Here is the quick path:
Pro Tip: Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. The neon lighting effects and hover-car animations are gorgeous, but they can chug on older integrated graphics.
If you own SimCity (2013), Cities of Tomorrow is not optional; it is essential. It transforms the game from a frustrating, cramped traffic simulator into a genuinely creative futuristic sandbox. It embraces the absurdity of the small maps by letting you build up. It replaces broken ground-AI with flying drones. And it gives you a legitimate moral choice between a corporate hellscape and a green techno-paradise.
Is it enough to make SimCity (2013) a classic? No. The fundamental bones of the game are still too brittle. But Cities of Tomorrow is the best possible version of that flawed game. It is a testament to what Maxis could do when they stopped trying to compete with SimCity 4 and instead built a weird, ambitious, neon-drenched toy. download simcity 5 cities of tomorrow new
For anyone looking to revisit the last true SimCity before the franchise went dormant, don't bother with the base game. Install Cities of Tomorrow, zone your first OmegaCo factory, and watch your skyline turn into a glistening, morally ambiguous work of art. Just don't look too closely at the traffic.
Rating for the Expansion (on its own merits): 8/10
Rating for fixing the base game: 6/10
To download the SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow expansion pack (originally released for SimCity 2013), you can use the EA app or other verified digital storefronts. As of April 2026, the game is widely available as part of the SimCity: Complete Edition. How to Download and Install
Platform Requirement: Ensure you have the EA app installed on your PC.
Redemption: If you purchased a code from a third-party retailer like Amazon or Yuplay, open the EA app, go to your Library, and select Redeem Code.
Download: Once activated, the game or expansion will appear in your library. Click the title to begin the download and installation process. Complete Edition
: If you do not yet own the base game, it is recommended to get the SimCity: Complete Edition
from the Microsoft Store, which includes Cities of Tomorrow along with all other DLC packs. Key Game Features
MegaTowers: Build massive, multi-zone skyscrapers that can house entire self-sustaining communities.
New Specializations: Choose between the Academy, which focuses on clean utopian technology, or OmegaCo, a profit-driven corporation that causes heavy pollution.
Futuristic Transport: Upgrade your city with MagLev trains and service drones.
Exclusive Disaster: Features a new "Giant Robot" attack disaster tailored for the high-tech theme. System Requirements (PC) OS: Windows 7 64-bit or newer. Processor: Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.5GHz or equivalent. Memory: 4 GB RAM. Storage: Approximately 10 GB. SimCity Cities of Tomorrow - Amazon
The SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow expansion for SimCity (2013) is a visually striking but mechanically complex addition that attempts to fix the base game's limitations by building upward. Key Features & Mechanics
MegaTowers: Massive, multi-layered skyscrapers that allow you to stack residential, commercial, and service levels. They address the game's notoriously small map sizes by encouraging vertical growth. New Specializations:
The Academy: A high-wealth research center that produces ControlNet, a wireless resource required to power futuristic buildings.
OmegaCo: A corporate-driven industry that produces "Omega," a resource that converts buildings into franchises to generate massive profits—at the cost of extreme pollution.
Futuristic Transport: Adds MagLev trains, which run above existing roads to save space, and Drones that handle deliveries and emergency services. The Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Reviewers from sites like IGN and Eurogamer describe it as a "mixed bag" that enriches the gameplay but fails to fix fundamental engine issues. SimCity 2013 Revisited - Is It Any Better Now?
To download SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow (the expansion for SimCity 2013, often called SimCity 5), you can find it through official digital platforms and various authorized retailers. This expansion requires the base SimCity game and an EA Account to play. Official Purchase and Download Options EA App (Recommended): You can buy the SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow Bundle directly from the official Electronic Arts website or within the EA App launcher. Microsoft Store: The SimCity: Complete Edition
is available here, which includes the base game and all expansions, including Cities of Tomorrow.
Authorized Retailers: You can purchase digital activation codes (CD keys) from sites like Instant Gaming, Loaded, or YUPLAY and redeem them in the EA App. How to Activate and Download
Install the EA App: Download it from the Official EA Website. To download the SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow expansion,
Redeem Your Code: Open the EA App, go to your Library, click Redeem Code, and enter your purchased key.
Start Download: Once authenticated, the expansion will appear in your collection under the base game's "Manage Add-ons" section. Key Features and Requirements SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow system requirements
To download SimCity (2013) and its Cities of Tomorrow expansion, you must use the EA App (formerly Origin), which is the official platform for managing and launching these titles on Windows. 1. Purchase and Initial Download Choose Your Version: You can buy the standalone SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow expansion if you already own the base game, or the SimCity: Complete Edition
, which includes the base game and the expansion together [11]. Install via EA App: Open the EA App and log into your account. Go to your Library and select SimCity.
Click Download. If you own the expansion, it typically downloads automatically with the main game. 2. Verify Expansion Content
Manage Add-ons: If the expansion didn't download automatically, click on the SimCity
tile in your library, select Manage, and then Manage Add-ons. Download Add-on: Locate " Cities of Tomorrow " in the list and click the download icon [10]. 3. Downloading Custom "New" Cities
If you are looking for "new" cities created by other players rather than the expansion itself, you must manually install city save files:
Source Files: Visit community sites like Simtropolis or Skyestorme to find downloadable city saves [1, 9]. Installation Path:
Windows: Copy the downloaded .package files directly into: C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\SimCity\SimCityData [9].
Mac: Right-click the SimCity app in your Applications folder, select Show Package Contents, and navigate to Contents -> Resources -> SimCityData to paste the files [9].
Important Note: To use a downloaded city, you must have the exact same DLC and expansion packs (like Cities of Tomorrow ) as the creator of that city [1]. 4. Expansion Features at a Glance
Once installed, you can access new futuristic gameplay elements:
MegaTowers: Build massive, multi-zone skyscrapers to house, employ, and entertain Sims in a single footprint [11].
New Specializations: Choose between the consumerist OmegaCo for high profits and pollution, or the green Academy for clean, advanced technology [11].
Futuristic Disasters: Be prepared for new threats like the Giant Robot Attack [10].
Downloading and starting the SimCity™: Cities of Tomorrow expansion is straightforward since it is an add-on to the 2013 base game. If you already own the base game on the
, the expansion content typically unlocks automatically after purchase without a separate download. How to Get the Expansion Check Your Library : If you have purchased the expansion, log into the (formerly Origin). Select SimCity (2013) , click on "Manage" or "Extra Content," and ensure " Cities of Tomorrow " is listed as installed Purchase Options The official Electronic Arts store offers the SimCity™: Cities of Tomorrow Bundle for $19.99. Third-party retailers often have lower prices. For example, lists the DLC for $19.99, while sites like may offer global keys for around You can also find physical "Download Only" boxes on for approximately $14.34 to $16.25. Expansion Highlights
Once installed, you’ll see new futuristic options in the city specializations tab. MegaTowers
: Enormous skyscrapers that allow you to build residential, commercial, and office zones vertically. The Academy vs. OmegaCo : Choose between a high-tech "Utopian" path using The Academy to research clean tech like Fusion Power or a "Dystopian" path with to maximize profits through heavy industry and pollution. New Transport : Implement
trains that travel above your street level to alleviate traffic. Service Drones
: Use drones to automate police, fire, and medical services. Electronic Arts Home Page System Requirements SimCity Cities of Tomorrow | SimCity | Fandom The Academy: A new research system that unlocks
Upgrade Your Skyline: Download SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow Today
If you are looking to download SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow, you are about to transform your traditional urban sprawl into a high-tech metropolis. This major expansion pack for the 2013 SimCity takes your city-building experience 50 years into the future, introducing vertical architecture and cutting-edge technology. How to Download and Install
To get started with "Cities of Tomorrow," you must first own the base game. It is not a standalone product.
Platform: The most reliable way to purchase and download the expansion is through the EA App.
Installation: Once purchased, the expansion typically integrates directly into your existing game files. In the EA App, you can check your "Collection," select SimCity, and view it under the expansions tab.
Offline Play: Maxis introduced a single-player offline mode, allowing you to build your futuristic utopia without a persistent internet connection. Key Features of the Expansion
This pack offers two distinct paths for your city’s future: a clean, green Academy-led utopia or a gritty, consumer-driven OmegaCo dystopia.
SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow - A Glimpse into the Future of Urban Planning
The anticipation for the next installment in the SimCity series had been building for years, and with the release of SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow, fans were finally able to dive into the latest iteration of this beloved franchise. As the fifth main installment in the series, SimCity 5, also known simply as SimCity, represented a significant overhaul of the classic formula, introducing new gameplay mechanics, improved graphics, and a renewed focus on building and managing the cities of tomorrow.
The Evolution of SimCity
The SimCity series has long been the cornerstone of city-building simulation games, offering players the chance to design, manage, and evolve their own cities from humble beginnings to bustling metropolises. With each new installment, the series has evolved, incorporating new features, technologies, and gameplay mechanics to keep the experience fresh and engaging. SimCity 5, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts (EA), marked a new chapter in this evolution, promising an even more immersive and realistic city-building experience.
Cities of Tomorrow
The "Cities of Tomorrow" subtitle in SimCity 5 wasn't just a marketing gimmick; it represented a core aspect of the game's design philosophy. This expansion, or rather, the core game itself, encouraged players to think about the future of urban planning, sustainability, and innovation. With new tools and features at their disposal, players could design cities that were not only efficient and functional but also sustainable and forward-thinking.
Key Features of SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow
The Fan Reaction and Critical Reception
Upon its release, SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow received a mixed but largely positive reception from both critics and fans. The game's visuals, gameplay mechanics, and the depth of city management were praised. However, some critics noted that the game lacked certain features that had become standard in the series, and there were also complaints about the always-online requirement and the presence of bugs at launch.
Downloading SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow
For those interested in downloading SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow, the game was made available on various platforms, including Origin, EA's digital distribution service. Players could purchase the base game and then download additional content, including the Cities of Tomorrow expansion, which added a wealth of new features and gameplay mechanics.
Conclusion
SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow offered a fresh take on the classic city-building formula, emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and the challenges of planning for the future. While it had its flaws and was not without controversy, the game provided countless hours of engaging gameplay for fans of the series and newcomers alike. As the urban landscapes of tomorrow continue to evolve, so too does the SimCity series, offering players a unique lens through which to explore the complexities and rewards of city planning. For those looking to download and experience SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow, the game stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of building and managing the cities of the future.
Title: Rediscover the Future: Why You Need to Download SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow (Again)
Posted by: The Retro Mayor Date: April 22, 2026
Let’s be honest. When SimCity 5 (the 2013 reboot) launched, it had a rocky start. But for those of us who stuck around, we discovered a gem of urban planning—especially when the Cities of Tomorrow expansion dropped.
If you haven’t played it lately, or if you never picked up the DLC, now is the perfect time to revisit. Here is why you should download SimCity 5: Cities of Tomorrow right now and build the futuristic metropolis you’ve always dreamed of.