It's been nearly ten years since Paradox acquired the rights to Vampire: The Masquerade, and Bloodlines 2 was originally supposed to arrive in 2020…
Everything seemed perfect when it was announced. It was one of the most sought-after RPGs among fans. But nearly ten years after work on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 began, and it's struggling with a sea of problems, the game still hasn't made it to stores. The developers suffered so much that Paradox admitted that even the potential success of Bloodlines 2 would not encourage them to work on another role-playing adventure. “Let someone else do it” – they said in an interview with PC Gamer. If we look at the history of development, this is understandable.
They worked secretly for four years alongside the Bloodlines 2-na Hard Suit Labs team, which included veterans of the original game. We wrote in 2019 and the plan was to release the game in 2020. However, the vampire RPG was delayed and brought back again, with a release date set for 2021… before it was confirmed that it had been postponed indefinitely and Hard Suit had withdrawn from the project . The situation was so critical that cancellation was on the table several times. “If we hadn’t found the Chinese Room and looked at what we had, canceling it would have been the logical step because we didn’t want to continue the way we were going.” says Matthias Lilja, CEO of the studio.
Bloodlines 2 is on the right track
Although the game has continued to be delayed – with it now promised for a mid-2025 release – Paradox is now more confident about the project. “It's been in development for a long time, but we're starting to see the game as… what we think the World of Darkness experience will be.” He adds. He definitely doesn't seem very excited. There seems to be some serious tension surrounding the game, and that's understandable, considering the recent Bloodlines 2 divided fans of the classic RPG.
What seems clear is that Paradox will be reluctant to continue focusing on RPGs in-house. “Making these types of games is not part of our strategy. So if Bloodlines 2 is a success, God willing, Bloodlines 3 will be a success for someone else under our license.because they own the White Wolf and World of Darkness brands. “I would say that's the only strategic way to make it work.”. He's completely honest about this.
“We don't know much about it, so it's best to let others do it.”
Then there are the high production costs associated with large RPGs. Baldur's Gate 3 has raised the bar even higher, making it a risky business. He therefore concludes that Bloodlines 2 is a “dead end”. It will continue, however “Regardless of the outcome” Irony will not [közvetlenül] To embark on such a project again.
Paradox game without DLC?
Each major release of Paradox comes with dozens of content additions that will enhance the experience for years to come. Will it be the same for Bloodlines 2? Matthias Lilja gave a completely clear answer. “We never let our games down. We make sure they work; to deliver what they promise. The rest is largely up to the players.”. This policy is fine for highly strategic titles, but not so for Bloodlines 2.
“I think it's pretty clear […] Even in the best case scenario, bloodlines won't be long-lasting. That's not how games like this work. You have a huge influx of players, then word of mouth comes, then you reach a peak in the number of players, and then it gradually declines […] “That's why I think we don't like these kinds of games very much.” The head added the irony. But there are examples of great RPGs, like Bethesda's, that continue for years with additions and updates.
Time will tell what happens in this regard. For now, we can only wait and hope that after all these years, the game will finally see the light of day, and we can enjoy the RPG that will forever be etched in the hearts of players.
source: Computer games
