Video Games Stuck In Development Hell: Part 2

Development hell doesn’t always have to indicate length – sometimes, a game’s development can go sideways in just a short period of time. Case in point, publisher Paradox Interactive’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, a title announced in 2019 that has since been almost canceled, swapped to multiple developers, and more. 

Where? In 2019, Bloodlines 2 was revealedIt was full of anticipation. After all, it was 15 years in development. Things seemed to be progressing well after Bloodlines 2’s announcement, too. The trailers showcased the movie. Brujah ClanIt is the Ventrue Clan Video full-storyThese are just a few of the many benefits. Paradox Interactive has announced that it will launch in 2020. Xbox Series X would get Bloodlines 2The publisher then announced that it was going after the target audience. PlayStation 5As well.  

That’s a lot of content about Bloodlines 2, right? The game seemed to be well on its way. Paradox Games and Hardsuit Labs (then-developer) announced it in August 2020. It was postponed to 2021 for Bloodlines 2.. Let’s call this moment in the sequel’s development timeline the moment it entered hell. 

Shortly after that delay, the game’s lead narrative designer, Brian Mitsoda, and its creative director, Ka’ai Cluney, announced they were Hardsuit Labs is no longer involved with the project. Two months later, Paradox Interactive announced that Cara Ellison, Bloodlines 2’s senior narrative designer, had left Hardsuit Labs. 

Now, fast forward to February 2021 Paradox Interactive reported that Hardsuit Labs was firedThe development of Bloodlines 2 One month later, Hardsuit Labs was laid off According to PC Gamer, Paradox Interactive picked another studio to work on Bloodlines 2, a studio it hasn’t formally named, and the Bloodlines sequel was delayed “indefinitely.”

There’s no word on how the development of Bloodlines 2 is going at the moment, but hey, Paradox Interactive has announced Vampire The Masquerade bloodhuntYou can find out more at http://www.amazon.com/?p=238. A battle royale is set in the exact same universe as Bloodlines game, and released it into early access, so that’s pretty neat.