Having beforehand been delayed into the latter half of this yr, Paradox has now postponed Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 out of 2021. Extra damning, nonetheless, is information that developer Hardsuit Labs has been taken off the venture.
Talking in an end-of-year earnings report, Paradox CEO Ebba Ljungerud revealed that the continued coronavirus pandemic has brought on the writer to delay a number of “deliberate however not communicated” releases inside 2021. However Bloodlines 2 was given explicit consideration—not solely has it been pushed out of this yr, but it surely now seems a wholly new group can be concluding growth.
“Now we have additionally determined that Hardsuit Labs will not be main the event of Bloodlines 2, and we have now began a collaboration with a brand new studio accomplice to complete work on the sport. This has been a tough choice, however we’re satisfied that it’s the proper manner ahead to do the sport justice.”
Bloodlines 2 has been stricken with setback after setback. Lead author Brian Mitsoda was all of a sudden fired alongside inventive director Ka’ai Cluney every week after the sport’s delay into 2021. A number of months later, senior narrative designer Cara Ellison left the Bloodlines group. These all occurred a yr after a half-hour Gamescom demo that, whereas noticeably tough in spots, nonetheless confirmed loads of promise.
Improvement at Hardsuit appeared troubled, then. However to take away a whole studio from a venture comes as stunning information, and leaves the long-suffering vampire sequel in a particularly precarious spot. Paradox hasn’t revealed who’ll be carrying the sport over the end line, however hopefully the brand new studio can ship a Bloodlines 2 that is not too scarred from its tortured growth.
