It’s certainly been a troubling development for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, the sequel to the 2004 cult-classic action RPG on PC.
The Sequel was first announced in 2019 and it had loyal fans buzzing with excitement knowing that the long-awaited follow-up was finally on the way. Then at E3 2019, we were treated to its first gameplay trailer.
Sadly, a year after its initial announcement, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was delayed until 2021. What’s more, during its new anticipated release year, the sequel was not only delayed indefinitely, but its lead developer Hardsuit Labs was dropped from the project.
So it’s fair to say that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has not only ventured into the dreaded developmental hell but many features that this vampiric sequel will never see the light of day.
Thankfully, however, we have some good news. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is still in development, presumably from the ground up and it even has a new developer. The new developer in question is The Chinese Room, perhaps best known for Dear Esther and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. Sure, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a very different beast, but hopefully the new developer can pull a rabbit out of the hat and give us a game that this series deserves.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is now expected to be released in late 2024, though we wouldn’t be surprised if that date eventually got pushed back further. What’s more, a new gameplay reveal is expected to take place in January 2024.
“As an Elder vampire, players meet compelling characters, manoeuvre complex political relationships, stalk the city streets for prey, and engage in intense combat while balancing the need for blood,” reads the press release from publisher Paradox Interactive. “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.”
While this is good news, hopefully, this sequel won’t tank and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 will knock it out of the park. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 will be released for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Featured Image Credit: Paradox Interactive