Vampire: Bloodlines 2 Ditches Grand Open World for Detailed Density

Developer The Chinese Room Prioritizes Intricate Environments Over Sheer Scope

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is pivoting from an expansive open world to a densely packed, detailed experience. Developer The Chinese Room is channeling its efforts into crafting a more intimate yet richly realized game.

Focus on Intricacy, Not Scale

Ben Matthews, artistic director at The Chinese Room, revealed this design philosophy in a recent conversation with Game Informer. He emphasized that the game’s appeal will stem from its meticulous detail, not its geographical size.

“One thing we really want to focus on is the amount of details rather than the scope. We’re not making GTAs; it’s not a huge, open, huge game, the horizon is your limit. It’s something we really focus on trying to keep everything as dense as possible.”

—Ben Matthews, Artistic Director

This shift in focus comes as The Chinese Room takes over development. While the protagonist is new, the game adheres to Hardsuit Labs’ original vision for a Seattle-based setting during the holiday season.

The juxtaposition of the festive human world against the shadowy vampiric existence provides a unique narrative hook. As Matthews explained, the game opens with the protagonist emerging from a derelict building to witness the vibrant Seattle skyline, a stark contrast for a vampire awakened after a century of slumber.

The upcoming RPG is slated for release this October on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. In a competitive gaming market where open-world titles often dominate player attention, games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have shown that tightly designed, detailed worlds can be incredibly successful, with the game selling over 5 million copies within its first month of release (Source: PlayStation Blog, 2023).