Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’s 2023 Release “Not Impossible,” Says Paradox CEO

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is an upcoming sequel to the 2004-released Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines currently under the supervision of Swedish publisher Paradox Interactive. It was announced back in 2019 but has suffered from a duo of delays ever since then. The game’s launch has been postponed indefinitely.

Speaking to Nyhetsbyrån Direkt via popular Sweden-based magazine Privata Affarer, Paradox’s CEO Fredrik Wester has stated that he feels “feels very good about Bloodlines 2” and that a release date for the action RPG will be made definite soon.

Moreover, Fredrik has added that “it’s absolutely not impossible that Bloodlines 2 could launch sometime in 2023.” This is hope-instilling news from the side of the developer, especially considering how Paradox currently feels positive about the project moving forward.

The Rundown:

• Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodline 2’s last delay was made public by the developers on Feb 23, 2021. The publisher — Paradox Interactive — said that Hardsuit Labs would be no longer working on the project and that pre-orders have been stopped from being processed as well. Hardsuit Labs was the studio helming the development of the game. 
• The action role-playing title has been delayed for a total of two times now, and there’s no proper release date as of yet, given the issues surrounding the development of the game. 
• Now, however, a ray of hope comes into the light as the CEO of Paradox Interactive Fredrik Wester has expressed the possibility of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodline 2 being released in 2023. He has said that the launch next year is “absolutely not impossible.” 

The first title in the series, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines wasn’t exactly loved by critics, performing well below average expectations and falling short of successful sales figures.

As a matter of fact, the title failed to cross the 200,000 sold units mark back when it was released in 2004 and this did come as a shock to the then-developers of the game.

After all, the counterparts of the action RPG were nothing short of awe-inspiring as well, including the likes of Half-Life 2, Halo 2, and even an iteration from the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Fast-forward to 2015, Paradox Interactive purchased the IP that comprised Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines called White Wolf.

Things went well for a fair amount of time with the development taking off with the likes of Cara Ellison and Rik Schaffer on board. However, people left afterward and the project’s growth was stunted. Paradox had to announce another imminent delay, considering all this developmental hell. 

Ever since 2020, therefore, there has been no proper word on the progress made by the developers of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2—only up until now, however. Fredrik Wester has also told Privata Affarer, “the game has been in very good hands and we are incredibly satisfied with what we have seen.”

Other than news in the context of Bloodlines 2, publisher Paradox Interactive has been working hard on releasing games year in and year out. Their latest owned IP, Victoria 3, has been performing notably well in recent times too, being a simulation-based world-building title.  

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has even had an extended gameplay trailer come out for it in 2019, should you choose to check it out ahead. The gameplay looks crisp and clean, with terrific gunplay and movement mechanics that offer nothing but the thrill of the rush.

 Have you been looking forward to this title? Do let us know in the comments section ahead.