At Gamescom 2025’s Opening Night Live, Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room finally lifted the veil on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, announcing its official release date of October 21. Accompanied by a gripping new trailer, the long-awaited sequel to the 2004 cult classic promises to plunge players into a dark, immersive world of vampire politics, visceral combat, and haunting mysteries set in modern-day Seattle. After years of development challenges, including studio changes and multiple delays, this announcement marks a significant milestone for fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the World of Darkness.
The new trailer showcased the game’s atmospheric take on Seattle, a city teetering on the edge of a supernatural war. Players will step into the role of Phyre, an elder vampire who awakens after centuries of torpor to find their powers sealed by a mysterious mark. Guided or perhaps haunted by Fabien, a Malkavian detective whose voice echoes in Phyre’s mind, players will navigate the treacherous underbelly of Seattle’s vampire court. The trailer teases a dual-perspective narrative, with daytime gameplay as Phyre in modern Seattle and dreamlike sequences set in a 1920s version of the city, where players embody Fabien to unravel a neo-noir murder mystery.
The gameplay footage revealed a blend of fast-paced melee combat, supernatural abilities, and stealth mechanics, all tailored to the player’s choice of vampire clan. From the sorcerous Tremere to the stealthy Banu Haqim, each clan offers unique playstyles, enhancing the game’s replayability. The trailer also hinted at expanded narrative depth, with The Chinese Room confirming that Bloodlines 2 will feature twice as many endings as its predecessor, ensuring that player choices significantly shape the story.
The road to Bloodlines 2 has been anything but smooth. Initially announced in 2019 by Hardsuit Labs with a planned 2020 release, the project faced numerous setbacks, including delays and a developer switch to The Chinese Room in 2023. Earlier this year, Paradox Interactive pushed the release from an initial Fall 2024 window to October 2025 to prioritize polish and technical quality. According to Executive Producer Marco Behrmann, the game is now feature-complete, with the team focusing on bug fixes, stability, and additional content to meet the high expectations of fans.
This commitment to quality is evident in the trailer’s polished visuals and the developer’s promise to deliver a game that honors the legacy of the original Bloodlines, a beloved RPG known for its rich storytelling and immersive world despite its buggy launch. The Chinese Room, known for narrative-driven titles like Dear Esther and Still Wakes the Deep, seems poised to capture the gritty, atmospheric essence of the World of Darkness while addressing the technical shortcomings of the 2004 classic.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 will launch on PC (via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, priced at $59.99 for the standard edition. Pre-orders unlock the Bloodlines Nostalgia Jukebox, a decor item for the player’s Haven base that plays themes from the original game. The $69.99 Deluxe Edition includes the Santa Monica Memories cosmetic pack, inspired by the first game’s iconic setting. The $89.99 Premium Edition adds the Shadows & Silk DLC, which includes two additional clans Lasombra and Toreador each with unique abilities and outfits. However, the decision to lock these clans behind a paywall has sparked some controversy among fans, who argue it fragments the core experience.