Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Release Date -

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 stands as the eagerly anticipated follow-up to Troika Games' 2004 RPG. The original, despite its rocky launch filled with glitches, enamored a vast number of fans, leading to community-driven patches for years post-release. The sequel's announcement was met with soaring expectations, but a slew of release date postponements, coupled with a transition from the original developer Hardsuit Labs to The Chinese Room, signaled that the series was once again plagued by challenges.

With Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 having built up quite the history in the years since its reveal and the project finally shaping up to be in a relatively stable state of development, here is a look at the announcements surrounding it alongside what we currently know about its release date, clans, factions, and gameplay.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Release Date

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Announcement

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 was announced in March 2019 after being teased a month prior through soulmate-searching app Tender. It was then given a Q1 2020 release window, alongside the first set of details about it, including its Seattle setting, the fact that players would start out as lesser vampires, and its emphasis on gameplay choice.

Throughout 2019, Paradox Interactive and then-developer Hardsuit Labs shared quite a bit of information regarding the Thinblood disciplines, five joinable clans and factions, as well as an E3 2019 gameplay trailer that gave us a good look at the first-person action-RPG.

In September 2019, the publisher announced that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 would not be playable at that year's PDXCON, but that all attendees would get a free copy of the game.

First Delay

Days prior to PDXCON starting, the game suffered its first delay, having its release date pushed back to some point beyond Q1 2020.

Senior Product Manager Florian Schwarzer mentioned in an interview with GameWatcher later that month that the postponement of Bloodlines 2 was due to its vast scope and abundant content, saying ""it's a big game with a lot of content". The team was committed to ensuring it received the attention it deserved.

Second Delay

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2's second delay came in August 2020, pushing its release date into 2021. Later that month, it was announced that Lead Narrative Designer Brian Mitsoda and Creative Director Ka’ai Cluney were no longer working on the game. Creative Consultant Alexandre Mandryka then stepped in as Creative Director.

These two high-profile departures were followed by a third in October 2020, when it was announced that Senior Narrative Designer Cara Ellison had also left Hardsuit Labs. This, naturally, caused a great amount of concern among fans which, sadly, would prove justified.

Third Delay

As February 2021 rolled by, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2's release date saw its third delay, which was accompanied by the news that Hardsuit Labs was no longer involved in the game's development. This pushed its release date outside of 2021. In March, the studio was hit with layoffs.

Where Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is now and who's developing?

Current planned release date: Fall 2024

Following its third delay, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 was surrounded by deep silence. At that time we still didn't know who the new developer was, but CEO Fredrik Wester said in an interview from October 2021 that "a very reputable and talented developer" is now handling it.

Although Bloodlines 2 was still in development, Wester admitted that Paradox almost canceled the game, before an internal pitch convinced the publisher to continue its development. When asked about whether a 2023 release date might be realistic, he answered (via Google Translate) with the following: "We have a while left so that you could say."

During the Q3 2021 interim report livestream, Paradox Interactive CFO Alexander Bricca said that "the new developer is doing quite well and we are happy with the progress of the project, but it's still quite some time before we can start to talk about release dates," while adding that the publisher will keep the developer's name under wraps to give it the time it needs to focus on development.

September Reveal

On June 7, 2023, Paradox Interactive announced its plans to disclose the new development house, which has replaced Hardsuit Labs. The announcement is set for a special live stream event in September, during which we anticipate learning more about the game's release date. In addition, it was announced that pre-orders are currently being refunded. Furthermore, five new screenshots from the game were revealed, which we've published below.

On September 2nd, at a PAX West keynote, Paradox Interactive announced a significant development update for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. The Chinese Room, a subsidiary of Sumo Digital, has taken over the game's development from the previously assigned Hardsuit Labs. The following trailer was presented to the public at the show. A release date of Fall 2024 was set.

Gamers can look forward to a gameplay preview set for January 2024, leading up to the game's official launch in Fall 2024 on PC, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

"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 catalogue," Ed Daly, Studio Director at The Chinese Room, said. "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 honours the legacy of its predecessor while bringing its gameplay to the modern era."

"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," Sean Greaney, Vice President of World of Darkness at publisher Paradox Interactive, said. "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."

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Neo-Noir Art Style

Under The Chinese Room, Bloodlines 2 approaches both narrative and art style by prioritizing neo-noir sensibilities.

"From Locations to Characters our vision is about showing a side of Seattle at night that goes deeper than what you see on the surface," the developer wrote in a dev diary.

"Whether it’s dark-cornered alleyways to roam or interiors that host Machiavellian politics behind closed doors. Neo-Noir puts atmosphere and contrast at the centre of its palette and that’s something that works perfectly with our Vampire fantasy and ultimately Bloodlines 2."

Where "Vampires inhabit the dark," which is "the place where we feel the most secure" and depicted using "a very cold colour pallet," humans prefer the light and its warmer tones.

The changes between these environments "have always been sudden and stark," the developer notes, while confirming that Neo-Noir aesthetics will also be reflected in the characters we encounter along the way.

All the information from this point on comes before the game's third delay. It's unclear how much of the work put in by Hardsuit Labs will be used by the new developer or if the game's overall vision has suffered drastic changes. The details regarding the five clans previously revealed are still available on the Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 website, as of October 18, 2022.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Clans

Thinblood

Not a clan per se, but the state in which you start the game, making you a lesser vampire of sorts, before you join one of the fullblood clans detailed below. That being said, you're still a vampire with access to a set of three disciplines, granting powers humans can only dream about:

Chiropteran

Glide - lowers your body weight, allowing you to float on updrafts and reach inaccessible areas, swoop into NPCs and knock them down, pounce on foes and generally keep your distance

Bat Swarm - summons a small swarm of bats to attack a target NPC, temporarily disabling them and dealing low damage

Mentalism

Pull - Manipulates inanimate objects from a distance, whether it be boxes lying around or the weapons that your enemies wield

Levitate - Suspends living NPCs in the air

Nebulation

Mist Shroud - Summons a shroud of mist that muffles the sound of footsteps and reduces the range at which the player can be seen; also facilitates choking attacks against NPCs or traveling through tight spaces

Envelop - Creates a stationary, swirling cloud of mist that surrounds, blinds, and forcefully enters the lungs of NPCs who touch it

Brujah

The Brujah are a no-nonsense clan that likes to prove their worth through the most direct of means. Their two disciplines enhance close-quarters capabilities and speed.

Potence

Fist of Caine - devastating punch that turns walls into rubble and throws enemies through the air; can also tear off limbs and cause collateral damage

Earthshock - ground smash whose impact causes a shockwave around the player, damaging and knocking down anyone nearby

Celerity

Unseen Storm - dash while disappearing from view, knocking down opponents in your path, and granting an opening to land or dodge attacks, but also escape enemies

Accelerate - Greatly slows down time around you

Tremere

The Tremere hail from occultists who sought immortality, becoming vampires adept at using blood magic to their advantage, which is reflected in their two disciplines.

Thaumaturgy

Skewer - launches a portion of your Vitae at the feet of your enemies, erupting in a patch of razor-sharp spikes before returning to you

Purge - makes targets vomit up blood while inflicting heavy damage; like with Skewer, a stream of blood returns to you at the end of the cast

Blood Boil - Thaumaturgy masters can cast Purge a second time, making enemies explode while damaging others in a large area; blood, once more, returns to you after the cast

Auspex

Aura Sense - lets you see NPCs through walls, read crowds at a glance, track individuals over long distances, while also revealing weak points

Psychic Projection - Detaches your mind from your body, letting you explore your surroundings in astral form; can also telepathically overwhelm the senses of your targets for a short while.

Toreador

A beauty-obsessed vampire clan comprised of artists, the Toreador's disciplines focus on crowd control and speed.

Presence

Awe - Strikes a pose, freezing everyone who sees you for a while, letting you slip through

Entrance - Summons a group of admirers that follows you around, distracting others

Celerity

Unseen Storm - dash while disappearing from view, knocking down opponents in your path, and granting an opening to land or dodge attacks, but also escape enemies

Accelerate - Greatly slows down time around you

Ventrue

Described as "the architects of vampire society," the Ventrue have had the blood of rulers coursing through their veins for a very long time. Their disciplines enable players to control NPCs and enhance their own defensive capabilities.

Dominate

Mesmerize - Places an NPC in an hypnotic trance, making it oblivious of its surroundings

Command - Enables ordering Mesmerized targets to move, remove obstacles, and attack others

Fortitude

Absorb - Defensive stance that deflects all attacks, healing your wounds for each deflected attack

Personal Armor - Turns your skin into a stone-like barrier, making you more resistant

Malkavian

The Malkavian clan has long been ostracized by other vampires because of their inherent insanity that does, however, grant them oracle-like powers. Their disciplines focus on toying with their opponents' minds and better knowing your surroundings.

Dementation

Haunt - Spawns the image of a spectre in your target's mind, causing them to flee

Berserk - Sends targets in an uncontrollable rage, causing them to attack anything near them

Auspex

Aura Sense - lets you see NPCs through walls, read crowds at a glance, track individuals over long distances, while also revealing weak points

Psychic Projection - Detaches your mind from your body, letting you explore your surroundings in astral form; can also telepathically overwhelm the senses of your targets for a short while.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Factions

As you make your way across Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2's Seattle, you'll encounter the following factions fighting over control of the city: