When is the Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 release date? Well, that’s a question we’ve been asking for a long, long time. As the next instalment in Seattle’s ongoing saga of strife and exsanguination gets a new developer and release window, there’s a lot to get excited about. Arise Kindred, there’s blood to be spilled and a power vacuum that’s in desperate need of filling.
After all, we’ve been looking for a good vampire game to sink our teeth into for some time, hoping and praying (maybe not the last one) for any word on Paradox’s Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 2, the sequel to White Wolf’s iconic 2004 VTM RPG. The game has been passed between two different developers, but it looks like we finally have something a little more concrete to go on – and a release window, too.
Bloodlines 2 release date speculation
As confirmed in an official reveal trailer at PAX West 2023, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is set to release in fall 2024.
This is the most definitive timeframe we’ve had so far, with the game initially slated to release in 2021 before changing hands from Hardsuit Labs to The Chinese Room.
The Chinese Room started out modding Half-Life 2 and went on to be acquired by Sumo Digital in 2018. It also uploaded its own reveal of Bloodlines 2 and how it came to fruition. The studio promised “immersive, wonderful worlds” for players before describing it as “powerful, dark, violent, thrilling, twisty, visceral, challenging,” and more.
Bloodlines 2 classes and clans
These are the potential Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 clans, gleaned from watching the trailer above:
- Brujah
- Nosferatu
- Toreador
- Tremer
- Ventrue
While Bloodlines had seven of VTM’s 13 different clans, it isn’t known whether Bloodlines 2 will launch with all of them available at once. What we can discern from the trailer, though, is that some fan favorites look like they’ll be making a comeback.
We see our protagonist throwing rapid-fire punches as a Brujah, and wielding their blood as a magical weapon, implying that the Tremere are also lurking somewhere in the shadows. Sneak attacks from above hint at Nosferatu (we see one of them in the trailer, too), and flashes of a beautiful, suited woman, imply that the Ventrue will also be involved in the battle for Seattle – I mean, of course they are.
Where there’s Ventrue there’s likely Toreador, too, especially given they remain the universe’s most popular clan. Personally, as a magnificently malevolent Malkavian player, I hope we see the World of Darkness’ future-seeing, stop sign-yelling oddballs make a reappearance in this new and improved Seattle.
Bloodlines 2 gameplay
Bloodlines 2 is primarily an RPG game, where your character’s progression and gameplay will be heavily influenced by your choice of clan. Brujah, for example, are tanky brawlers, whereas Tremere are more akin to spell-slinging mages.
According to the Bloodlines 2 website, we’ll see an extended gameplay video in January 2024 that will show off the game’s playable clans, so check back then.
However, we know that there’s one thing that’s always at the core of Vampire The Masquerade videogames – blood. In the original Bloodlines, you would feed on unassuming humans to regain health and discipline (or your ‘mana’). Humans living poor lifestyles drain more quickly, where as high-flying society types drain slower, meaning you can take more blood from them. As your health and discipline bars decrease, you have to feed again, and again, and again.
I expect Bloodlines 2 will probably operate on a similar system, and may even introduce buffs akin to the ones Sharkmob added into their battle royale game, Bloodhunt. Certain NPCs had special blood characteristics, which gave you buffs and allowed you to level certain abilities more quickly. It’s a neat spin on an age-old heath regain system that, I think, would feel pretty sweet in Bloodlines 2.
Bloodlines 2 story
We don’t know much about Bloodlines 2’s story given the developer switch, but according to the official website our character is an elder vampire who has been thrust into a war for ownership of Seattle. It’s set in the real-world rather than the vampire world.
The rest is a mystery that I am oh so keen to dive into, but until then it’s worth checking out our list of the best horror games if you fancy delving into the night, as well as our upcoming PC games calendar for 2023 and beyond.
