Video Games
‘Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’ Pushed Back Again; Will Release in 2021
The hits keep coming with the repeated delays of upcoming genre titles, as Hardsuit Labs and Paradox Interactive have announced that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has been delayed again, this time into 2021. The teams explained the delay in a message posted to Twitter, saying that their goal has been to “deliver the best game possible”, and a “worthy successor to the original Bloodlines game”.
As a result of the expectations, however, “we have made the difficult decision that we need more time. This means our goal to release in 2020 is no longer possible. Moving launch is one of the changes we are making to ensure the best player experience possible.”
No new specific release date has been confirmed yet for the game, however given the mistakes made when the original game was rushed out the door early, it once again makes sense that Hardsuit and Paradox would make this decision.
Bloodlines 2 is expected for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Today we have an important announcement in regards to the release date of Bloodlines 2. 🦇 pic.twitter.com/M3xR5qOOpN
— Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (@VtM_Bloodlines) August 11, 2020
Video Games
Immerse Yourself in Mystery with Narrative-Driven Folk Horror Title ‘The Polar Darkness’ [Trailer]
Independent developer Horsefly Games has announced their own brand of folk horror with The Polar Darkness, a narrative-driven mystery inspired by Finnish folklore, classic investigative adventures, and cosmic horror. Accompanying the announcement is the first trailer, which offers the first look at the game’s visual style, mystery-driven gameplay, and isolated northern Finnish setting.
Coming to Steam next year, the game is set during the polar night (Kaamos) of 1980s northern Finland. Players take on the role of journalist Emma Järvelä as she travels to the isolated village of Sysiluoma to investigate a controversial revival movement led by a charismatic cult leader and her child preacher. When the child mysteriously disappears during a sermon, and a blizzard cuts off all contact with the outside world, Emma becomes trapped in a community where every resident seems to be hiding a different version of the truth.
The Polar Darkness emphasizes investigation, dialogue, observation, and deduction. Players will question villagers, gather clues, solve environmental puzzles, and piece together a mystery rooted in local history, folklore, and something ancient buried somewhere deep.
“Classic mystery adventures such as Gabriel Knight were a major inspiration,” said Juho Kuorikoski, creator of The Polar Darkness. “I wanted to create a story that captures that sense of investigation, folklore, and slow-burning dread, but through a distinctly Finnish lens.”
The story unfolds across three days using a time-based structure mechanic. Complete tasks and objectives to advance the game’s internal clock. Characters move and events change as time passes, and choices determine what you see and what you miss. Each playthrough reveals a different perspective on the truth.
The game features a distinct visual presentation that combines photographic 2D characters based on real actors to atmospheric 3D environments. Complementing the visuals is a soundtrack heavily inspired by Finnish folk music, composed and performed by Finnish folk artists.