After Years in Torpor, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Finally Launches October 21, 2025
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 now has a release date: October 21, 2025. The Chinese Room is the current developer and Paradox Interactive remains the publisher. Below you’ll find a quick summary and the facts we know from the recent Gamescom coverage.
- New release date and confirmed platforms
- Recent development history and studio changes
- What the Gamescom demo showed about story and gameplay systems
Release date and platforms
The game is scheduled to launch on October 21, 2025. It will be available on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
Development history
Paradox Interactive originally announced the sequel several years ago. Then, in 2021, the project was delayed indefinitely after the original Bloodlines writer was dismissed and Paradox ended its relationship with Hardsuit Labs. In 2023, The Chinese Room took over development and implemented a new plot and direction for the title.
What the Gamescom demo showed
Story setup
The new plot centers on an elder vampire who awakens in modern-day Seattle. Your playable character is known as The Nomad (Phyre), a vampire who has wandered for centuries. The city’s vampire Prince has recently been killed by anarchs, and the demo frames that power shift as a key plot element. A Malkavian vampire named Fabien appears as a voice in Phyre’s head and guides the player through parts of the demo.
Gameplay systems observed
The demo showed a mix of exploration, stealth, dialogue options, and combat. Dialogue choices and NPC interactions vary with clan selection; the base game includes four playable clans, with an additional two offered by an expansion. Combat in the demo included human enemies, ghouls, and anarch NPCs. Players used a telekinesis mechanic to manipulate and throw items. In addition, the demo’s Ventrue abilities included a temporary fortitude buff after feeding, a compel ability that can force mortals to kill themselves, and a remote possession power.
During the demo, certain environment elements appeared non-interactive: for example, an elevator button did not work and a duct route required clearing enemies before it could be used. Also, weapons could not be directly held in hand; the demo used telekinesis to move and aim objects and found weapons instead of standard pickup-and-wield mechanics.
Other concrete facts
The Chinese Room previously developed narrative-focused games such as Dear Esther and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. The new Bloodlines 2 setting and protagonist differ from the original 2004 game, where the player began as a human turned into a fledgling vampire. The sequel begins with an awakened elder vampire, which changes the opening context and motivations.
