Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 - What We Know So Far

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, the sequel to the 2004 cult classic Bloodlines, places you in the role of a thinblood, a newly turned vampire, as you navigate the dangers of 21st century Seattle. One of many vampires created during the Mass Embrace, an unsanctioned attack that claimed dozens of victims, you find yourself at the center of an investigation. As you search for the perpetrator who changed your life forever, you must navigate a shadow world of backstabbing and intrigue, all while hiding you true nature from the world of mortals. Welcome to The Masquerade.

Bloodlines maintains its cult following, considered by many to be a flawed masterpiece due to its strong emphasis on narrative and player choice. Following the failure of developer Troika Games, the title received unofficial support from fans via bug fixes and the release of unused content. Bloodlines 2 resurrects the franchise at the hands of developer Hardsuit Labs. Paradox Interactive will publish the title, marking another change from the original, which was released by Activision. Both Bloodlines and Bloodlines 2 take place in the World of Darkness, a setting created by White Wolf, which Paradox Interactive acquired in 2015.

All pre-orders of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 come with the First Blood Pack containing the digital soundtrack and three in-game items: Engraved Pistol Weapon Skin, Civil War Saber Weapon Skin, and Retro Hunter Outfit. If you'd like additional swag, you can pick up the Unsanctioned Edition or Blood Moon Edition, both of which come with 24-hour Early Access.

Players who pre-order the Deluxe Unsanctioned Edition will receive the following bonuses: First Blood Pack, in-game commentary featuring narrative lead Brian Mitsoda, in-game artbook, Damsel's Beret, Jeanette Outfit, Smiling Jack Outfit, Voerman Family Portrait, Sarcophagus Table, Severed Arm Weapon Skin, and Stop Sign Item.

The Premium Blood Moon Edition comes with the First Blood Pack, Unsanctioned Pack, and the Season of the Wolf Season Pass, which includes two upcoming Story Packs, as well as one major werewolf-flavored Expansion, and the Bludgeon Weapon Skin on day one.

Right now, you can only order the Unsanctioned and Blood Moon editions for PC, with console pre-orders slated to follow.

At the start of Bloodlines 2, you'll choose from one of three Thinblood disciplines, with two additional disciplines unlocking once you choose your clan. These disciplines act as specialized skill trees that provide additional powers to augment your combat and social capabilities. Combat unfolds from a first-person perspective, with a wealth of melee weapons and firearms at your disposal in addition to your budding supernatural assets.

Continuing the legacy established by Bloodlines, the sequel provides an RPG narrative with branching pathways. The choices you make, disciplines you choose, clan you join, and faction you align yourself with will all alter your experience, taking advantage of the game's reactive storytelling. How tightly you cling to your humanity and how effectively you maintain The Masquerade around mortals will also have a strong effect on your experience. This style, which utilizes different outcomes, scenes, and dialogue as you progress through the story, makes the title highly replayable. For a more in-depth look at the gameplay of Bloodlines 2, check out the demo Paradox Interactive shared at E3 and Gamescom 2019.

Thinbloods, newly created vampires, start their second life with little understanding of their nature or the rules of Kindred society. Reviled by fullblood clan members, most Thinbloods live a short and cruel life, dying when they cross the wrong person or threaten The Masquerade. Some manage to find work as grunts or runners, acting as expendable fodder for Seattle's more sordid individuals and organizations. Those who are smart have the opportunity to rise above the rabble, making their way into the elite realms of vampire society.

At character creation, you will have the opportunity to choose between three Thinblood disciplines: Chiropteran, Mentalism, and Nebulation. Chiropteran taps into the Thinblood bat affinity, allowing you to float on updrafts and attack NPCs with bat swarms. Mentalism bestows the power of telekinesis, including the ability to pull objects towards you, even the weapon from an enemy's grasp. You can also suspend NPCs in mid-air. Finally, Nebulation lets you summon and command mist, pulling it around you to better go unnoticed or launching offensive attacks.

Witches, warlocks, and occultists, the Tremere have paid the price of their founders' quest for immortality. Though they reached their objective, the Tremere were cursed, their magic bound to blood. This curse has been passed down to the clan's successive members, creating an unbroken cycle of mistrust, war, and grudges. Though traditionally shunned by Kindred society, the Tremere have grown in numbers during recent years, forging alliances by offering secrets and their unique services. Though these actions have helped the clan's image, many vampires continued to revile them and the twisted nature of their power.

Joining the Tremere clan unlocks two new Disciplines: Thaumaturgy and Auspex. A form of blood sorcery, Thaumaturgy is Tremere's most carefully guarded secret. Blood casters can create razor-sharp blood spikes, cause a target to vomit blood, and even make the blood boil in a person's veins until they explode and damage any bystanders in the area. Auspex represents the Tremere pursuit of perfection, letting you detect the auras of others and track them from long distances. At higher levels, you can even detach your mind from your body, exploring Seattle in Astral Form.

Titans of industry, the Ventrue dominate Seattle's modern business landscape, having capitalized on the area's many industrial booms. With the blood of rulers in their lineage, the Ventrue have exchanged their crowns and thrones for stocks and boardrooms, influencing the world on both a local and global scale through multi-billion-dollar businesses. More than leaders, the Ventrue see themselves as the guardians of The Masquerade, charged with shepherding vampire society and eliminating anyone who falls short of their standards.

By joining the Ventrue clan, you will unlock two new disciplines: Dominate and Fortitude. Calling upon centuries of authority, Ventrue can mesmerize those in their presence, making them oblivious to their surroundings. At higher levels, you can issue orders to a dominated individual, even forcing them to attack other people. Defined by their legacy, much of the Ventrue clan's power stems from their ability to outlast their opponents. Fortitude bestows physical resilience, letting you deflect attacks, heal, and temporarily become immune to damage.

Seattle houses five major factions, groups of vampires who have aligned in vision and purpose under a single banner. Each faction comes with its own history, features, and goals, giving you the choice to ally with them or pit them against one another. The Pioneers, headed by Lou Grand, founded Seattle and ruled over it for more than a century. That control has since slipped, and the faction struggles to remain relevant under the reign of a new Prince.

Composed of loggers, fishermen, bootleggers, old money families, artists, and musicians, the Pioneers view Seattle as a romanticized ideal of the last frontier. They cling to the exploration spirit of the old world, fighting to maintain what little power and control they still have while greeting outsiders with disdain and suspicion. Presiding over some of the city's less significant territories, they've spent decades watching as more and more people migrated to the area, carving their beloved city into smaller pieces.