Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’s announcement earlier this year came as a big (and pleasant) surprise to many, and since then, many have been looking forward to its launch, which developers Hardsuit Labs and publishers paradox Interactive had set for Q1 2020. However, the RPG’s release date has now been delayed, Hardsuit Labs have announced.
Bloodlines 2 will still launch in 2020, but its release has been pushed back from the Q1 window. The developers haven’t gone into what exactly its new release date (or window) is, but have given assurances that it will still launch in 2020. According to Hardsuit Labs, the decision to delay the game comes from a desire to put quality front and centre, deliver a standout sequel, and make sure that it doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the first game, which is known to have launched in a rushed state all the way back then.
“For the last three and a half years, we’ve worked hard to bring you a worthy successor to Bloodlines 1,” the developer wrote. ” To us, that meant not only making good on the ambitions of this remarkable game, but also a duty to ensure we would not repeat its mistakes. Today, we have to tell you that we need some more time to get you the game you’ve been waiting for. Although Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 will still launch in 2020, we have decided to value quality over making the Q1 launch window. ”
The developer later emphasised that rushing the game’s development to meet its release date would have been a mistake, and would just have been a repeat of the mistakes that the first game itself made as well.
“There’s the responsibility to avoid some of the issues that plagued the first game, which was famously launched too early,” they wrote. “Over the last few months, it became clear that to stick to our original date would risk repeating that mistake. We won’t do that. In the end, everyone working on this game wants to offer you the best Bloodlines 2 we can.
“This hasn’t been an easy- nor our first choice. Throughout 2019 we have been improving our processes and growing our teams, however it soon became clear that this alone won’t allow us to deliver the quality we want at the date we promised.”
Though some will doubtless be disappointed with the delay, at the end of the day, it’s good news, especially if the developers need that time to ensure that the game hits a certain level of quality. There’s also the fact that they’re being very transparent and honest about this, which is always nice. And frankly, given how busy the first half of 2020 is as it is, it’s a relief to see some releases getting pushed back.
