Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has risen from the dead with a new developer

The highly anticipated Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is currently being developed by The Chinese Room. Bloodlines 2 was nearly canceled in 2021 when Hardsuit Labs was dismissed by Paradox Interactive, and the project remained largely silent for two years.

Just like its predecessor, Bloodlines 2 had a very complicated development. The game was initially announced in 2019 by Paradox and Hardsuit Labs, and it included one of the writers from the first game, Brian Mitsoda. Problems started to arise when the game was delayed, and Brian was dismissed the following year. Amidst further delays in 2021, Hardsuit Labs was replaced by another developer who was still unknown at that time.

Paradox Interactive has now announced that The Chinese Room will be taking over from Hardsuit Labs in the development of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. The studio, owned by Sumo Digital, has been working on the title since 2021, bringing the story and gameplay in a different direction while still utilizing some levels and visual assets originally created by Hardsuit Labs. Instead of controlling a freshly turned vampire, players will now be able to play as an Elder who awakens in Seattle after spending a long time in a dormant state, having to navigate a completely new reality. According to Ed Daly, the studio head of The Chinese Room, this game is the most ambitious project ever conceived by the developers, benefiting from 15 years of experience and expertise.

Prior to this announcement, there were speculations that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 could potentially be released in 2023, as Paradox had previously stated that a release within that timeframe was not ruled out. However, now the game is slated for release in autumn 2024. The team also confirmed that a gameplay video will be released in early 2024, providing players with a deeper insight into the visual aspects of the final product.

The Chinese Room is known for titles such as Dear Esther, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, and the critically acclaimed Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. These projects were praised upon release for their highly immersive atmosphere, so players can expect Bloodlines 2 to follow suit in a similar manner. This is good news, as the first Bloodlines game was also renowned for its dark atmosphere. Nonetheless, fans will have to wait a few more months before they can receive concrete information about the game.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.