Paradox Interactive has announced a significant financial write-down for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 due to underwhelming sales shortly after its release. The publisher attributes the poor performance to the game falling outside its core strategy expertise. Despite the setback, Paradox commits to delivering promised post-launch expansions.
Financial Impact
Paradox Interactive revealed a SEK 355 million (approximately £28 million) write-down on development costs for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. The RPG, released about a month ago, has not met sales projections, with estimates from GameDiscover.co suggesting around 121,500 copies sold, generating roughly £3 million in revenue. This falls far short of recouping the lengthy development expenses, which began with an announcement in 2019 before facing delays, studio changes, and a shift from The Chinese Room to another developer.
Publisher's Response
CEO Fredrik Wester stated, "The responsibility lies fully with us as the publisher. The game is outside of our core areas, in hindsight it is clear that this has made it difficult for us to gauge sales." He praised the game as "a strong vampire fantasy" and affirmed Paradox's high expectations for its IP in a broadly appealing genre. Wester also emphasized focusing future capital on core segments while evaluating the World of Darkness brand's potential.
Post-Launch Plans
Paradox assured players that its post-release roadmap remains intact, including two story expansions. One will feature aggressive vampire sheriff Benny Muldoon, and the other will center on nightclub-owning vampire Ysabella Moore. These replace previously planned clan access in deluxe editions. The game currently holds below 60 percent positive reviews on Steam, reflecting its troubled reception amid years of development challenges.
Broader Context
Former developer lead Dan Pinchbeck highlighted a naming issue, noting that titling it Bloodlines 2 set unrealistic expectations compared to the cult classic original. Paradox has previously discussed risks of venturing beyond strategy games, with executives stressing more disciplined investments outside core areas.