Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 delayed to ensure the game won't "repeat mistakes"

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The original launch date was set for the first quarter of 2020

(Image credit: Paradox Interactive)

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will no longer launch at the start of 2020, according to a blog post released today. The game will still drop sometime next year, and developer Paradox Interactive says the delay will ensure the sequel avoids the original's mistakes.

When Vampire: The Masquerade released in 2004, it was notoriously buggy, with major game crashes that would prevent you from proceeding. Fan-made fixes made it playable, and despite its flaws it became a cult classic. The developers of Bloodlines 2 are hoping to avoid that buggy launch entirely, noting that the original game was "famously launched too early," and that if they stuck to their original deadline, they would be "repeating that mistake."

"For the last three and a half years, we've worked hard to bring you a worthy successor to Bloodlines 1," they wrote. "To us, that means not only make 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."

While news of the delay is definitely a bummer, it would be an even bigger bummer to get a Bloodlines 2 that's as buggy and unplayable as the original. Fifteen years is a long time to build up hype for a sequel, and it's good to see the developers aren't taking this lightly.

We spoke to writer Brian Mitsoda, who told us that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is a faithful follow-up that's driven by one desire. 

Alyssa Mercante
Alyssa Mercante
Former Features Writer

Alyssa Mercante used to be a features writer at GamesRadar+ and is now a freelance writer and editor. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.