Brighton-based The Chinese Room is going to be helming work on the troubled Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2.

The news was announced in a trailer for the game, in which it was revealed that the studio would be taking over the project from Hardsuit Labs. That developer was dropped from Bloodlines 2 back in 2021 and announced layoffs shortly after.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is now set to launch in autumn 2024.

“Vampire: The Masquerade holds a special place in our hearts. The story world’s dark setting filled with intricate narratives built on top of modern society perfectly fits our studio’s catalog,” Chinese Room studio director Ed Daly said.

“Bloodlines 2 is our most ambitious project to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting this game, and we are up to the challenge. We are bringing more than 15 years of award-winning experience to the project, creating a game that honours the legacy of its predecessor while bringing its gameplay to the modern era.”

Paradox VP of World of Darkness – the franchise that Vampire is part of – Sean Greaney added: “We were immediately impressed when we saw The Chinese Room’s proposal for Bloodlines 2. They have a true passion for the source material, making them ideal partners to develop a story in the Vampire: The Masquerade setting that resonates with players. We are committed to making Bloodlines 2 a success. Bringing on a studio that shares our vision was critical to helping us achieve these goals. Fans of the franchise can rest assured knowing that Bloodlines 2 is in good hands, and we will have more to share with you in January.”

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was initially announced back in 2019 with a release date of March 2020.