Summary
- Early comparisons of Vampire: The Masqerade - Bloodlines 2 to Dishonored have sparked optimism.
- Changes in development studios have shifted gameplay style towards action RPG elements.
- Paradox aims to deliver Bloodlines 2 in the first half of 2025, despite previous production troubles.
Paradox Interactive's Mattias Lilja has commented on the development of Vampire: The Masqerade - Bloodlines 2, noting that early testing of the highly-requested sequel has drawn comparisons to the beloved action RPG Dishonored. Changes between development studios and the removal of multiple story leads have left many fans weary about the direction of Vampire: The Masqerade - Bloodlines 2, but these latest comments from the game's publisher have sparked a new wave of optimism.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has already experienced a tumultuous development, with the vampire title getting its release date pushed back once again following an update in August 2024. Audiences have been disgruntled by repeated delays and a less than satisfying gameplay reveal trailer for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, so it would seem Paradox is keen on soothing any concerns with a healthy comparison to a successful title.
During an interview with GamesIndustry, Paradox deputy CEO Mattias Lilja mentioned that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has drawn early comparisons to Arkane Studios' Dishonored. The original cult classic Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines gained a dedicated following thanks to its heavy focus on the World of Darkness TTRPG story and an extensive role-playing skill tree system with an emphasis on dialogue choice. However, early looks at Bloodlines 2 sparked backlash for a seemingly action-heavy approach over the original game's prioritization of stealth and deception. Lilja attributed the shift in game style to current developer The Chinese Room, but noted that early reviews have repeatedly compared this new gameplay style to that of Dishonored. He further highlighted that the "vision" of the game has remained the same while the gameplay has simply shifted more in the direction of a true action RPG.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Is Similar To Dishonored
Lilja also spoke extensively about the struggles of swapping studios during development, stating that The Chinese Room was given the freedom to decide what aspects of the existing version of the game were kept and which were completely changed. He complimented the "stability" of The Chinese Room as a developer and said Paradox has "more confidence" that it can deliver a game with a solid story and setting. In spite of the troubled production leading to Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 almost getting canceled, Lilja reaffirmed Paradox's intentions of launching Bloodlines 2 in "the first half of 2025."
Dishonored ranks among the most popular and successful first-person action RPGs of all time, so Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 being compared to such a title has reignited curiosity among fans. While many still remain skeptical due to the sheer number of delays, others are keeping their fingers crossed that a hidden gem is waiting to be revealed. Whether Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will be met with the same praise as Dishonored or earn the dedicated following of its predecessor remains to be seen, but it would seem the teams at Paradox Interactive are optimistic towards the game's future.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 63 /100 Critics Rec: 27%
- Released
- October 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Nudity, Drug Reference, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- The Chinese Room
- Publisher(s)
- Paradox Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Vampire the Masquerade
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
