Paradox Interactive’s Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 may not be the game you pre-ordered back in 2019. After years of development hell, the upcoming RPG may be substantially different on release.
Following a long period of silence, Paradox is gearing up to kickstart its second attempt at marketing the new Vampire RPG. This September, new gameplay and reveals will be released, showing the game in all of its glory.
However, this new marketing push alongside publisher Paradox’s plans to refund original pre-orders for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, cancelling fans’ original contracts for both digital and physical versions of the game.
In a press release by Paradox, it was revealed that “proactively refunding all pre-orders of physical products, including the Collector's Edition.” Furthermore, refunds for the digital First Blood Edition, Unsanctioned Edition and Blood Moon Edition packages can also be refunded.
After even a decade of delays, it is surprisingly rare for still in-development games to be fully refunded, especially so close to a brand-new marketing push for the title.
For example, games with extremely long announcement to release periods have been honoured by multiple retailers in the past. Pre-orders for Kingdom Hearts 3 from 2015 were honoured years later. Even decade-old Dead Island 2 pre-orders were honoured upon release.
It’s clear that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will be a much different game from what fans pre-ordered. On the one hand, it should be a much better title than it was four years ago. Nevertheless, it will not be the same.
With all physical pre-orders being refunded proactively, it does seem that at least the game’s physical release will be much different, replacing or revising physical goodies and other tat. But what about the actual gameplay?
Well, Paradox has promised that more gameplay will be revealed for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 this September.
“We’re excited to show you more and hope to have all of you with us in September when we reveal more,” Paradox told fans. “We know you are eager to see how the game is coming along.”
The new Vampire RPG is expected to release on PC and consoles later this year.