Publisher Paradox Interactive recently announced during PAX West 2023 that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is now in development and has switched studios from its previous developer Hardsuit Lab. The UK based studio The Chinese Room, which is known for games such as Everybody’s Gone Esther, will be taking over development. The publisher also announced that gameplay footage from the game will be released in January 2024 and the game will launch in fall 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. Additionally, the previously announced PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions have been canceled. A 2023 announcement trailer was also released. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was first announced back in March 2019, with an initial 2020 release date. However, the game was delayed to 2021 and it lost both its creative director and its narrative designer. The publisher then announced that Hardsuit Labs will no longer develop the game in February 2021.
The Chinese Room studio director Ed Daly commented on the announcement in a press release, saying:
“Vampire: The Masquerade holds a special place in our hearts. The story world’s dark setting filled with intricate narratives built on top of modern society perfectly fits our studio’s catalog. Bloodlines 2 is our most ambitious project to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting this game, and we are up to the challenge. We are bringing more than 15 years of award-winning experience to the project, creating a game that honors the legacy of its predecessor while bringing its gameplay to the modern era.”
Paradox Interactive vice president of World of Darkness Sean Greaney:
“We were immediately impressed when we saw The Chinese Room’s proposal for Bloodlines 2. They have a true passion for the source material, making them ideal partners to develop a story in the Vampire: The Masquerade setting that resonates with players. We are committed to making Bloodlines 2 a success. Bringing on a studio that shares our vision was critical to helping us achieve these goals. Fans of the franchise can rest assured knowing that Bloodlines 2 is in good hands, and we will have more to share with you in January.”
The game’s details via the publisher:
The Chinese Room, a Sumo Digital studio, is developing the highly-anticipated Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. The Chinese Room brings their award-winning storytelling to Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, creating a high-quality Vampire: The Masquerade action RPG by talented developers with triple-A experience. Fans eager to sink their teeth into Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 can look forward to the gameplay reveal in January 2024 and its launch in fall 2024.
The Chinese Room is known for creating ground-breaking first-person titles that have won awards from BAFTA, TIGA, and more for their emotionally rich narratives. The studio’s world-class background makes them well-equipped to tell a Vampire story set in modern Seattle reimagined for a World of Darkness action RPG.
Bloodlines 2 is the successor to the cult-classic Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. Bloodlines 2 takes players to the dark underbelly of Seattle, where vampires struggle for survival and supremacy. As an Elder vampire, players meet compelling characters, maneuver complex political relationships, stalk the city streets for prey, and engage in intense combat while balancing the need for blood. Throughout the game, players must always be mindful of their surroundings or risk breaking the Masquerade—the absolute law of secrecy that keeps vampire society hidden from humanity.
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