Chris Avellone reveals what happened to Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2

Avellone began his story about the work on the sequel of the cult game from the very beginning: with a meeting of the publisher Paradox Interactive And studio Hardsuit labs… Neither company ever made role-playing games, but Hardsuit Labs came up with a project.

Avellone, who previously worked with the studio and knew someone at the publishing house, and just wanted at least someone to do Bloodlines, also went to the presentation in Las Vegas. Fortunately, Paradox, which owns the rights to the series, was imbued with the idea and even bought a solid block of shares in Hardsuit Labs.

I worked on Bloodlines 2 for almost two and a half years, from 2016 to mid-2018, then my contract came to an end. They did not use anything I wrote at the time, including a number of main characters and side missions, you can check in my LinkedIn… It upset me, but what could I do.

Even if I knew that all this work was useless, I would still do it, even if it is a part of life that cannot be returned, so you shouldn’t get too hung up on it. I’ve been involved in projects that have thrown MUCH more into the trash can.

So what happened next? Why did the roster change? Why did the project go to another developer? Is the game really handed over or is it bullshit?

To everyone who asks, the answer is: I fucking have no idea.

Chris Avellone

The writer explains that companies in the gaming industry rarely explain why they fire someone. There is a contract for this, which provides for dismissal at will, and the real reasons are not named also because otherwise the conclusion of such contracts could be complicated.

For a number of reasons, people who were fired are unlikely to be honest about the reasons, and they themselves may not know them. And those who know better and are ready to open their mouths are already waiting for an army of lawyers. But Avellone himself is very sorry that nothing happened with the project.

Was I disappointed with the news of the closure of the project? Damn it, how. It was the sequel to one of the best RPGs of all time, featuring one of the writers of the first game, the cult classic. With first-class characters and voice acting (Brian Mitsoda played a big part in this, as well as directors and record company Womb music).

To be clear, Brian Mitsoda and I don’t get along. This is because he is too tall and I hate his fingerless gloves. He probably hates me for being short and wearing nothing on my hands except human skin. However, despite our difference in height and choice of gloves, I have a lot of respect for him.

Chris Avellone

According to Avellone, he himself was attracted to work exclusively “for solidity”: before that Hardsuit Labs made mostly shooters, and the name of Avellone is closely connected with role-playing games. But he was happy that he had a chance to have a hand in the cult series.

I have no idea what will happen next with Bloodlines 2, but if they don’t use Mitsoda’s work, I don’t know what to expect at all. To be honest, it will just be a waste of time. A complete failure for the people who worked on it, for Hardsuit and for Paradox.

So what’s going on with Bloodlines 2? I have absolutely no idea at all.

Chris Avellone