The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 launching October 21

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 has had a very, very long development cycle, but the end is finally in sight. Launching just ahead of Halloween, appropriately enough, the game is set to feature a second playable character – a Malkavian Detective named Fabien, in addition to the protagonist we’ve seen thus far – Phyre, an Elder Kindred vampire who was Embraced during the early 17th century and has recently awoken from a century-long slumber in modern-day Seattle. If you need caught up on this upcoming much-anticipated sequel, look no further:

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 players will experience the game’s narrative through two alternating playable characters: Elder vampire Phyre and Malkavian detective Fabien. After centuries of torpor, a deep state of vampiric slumber, Phyre awakens in modern-day Seattle with a mysterious mark that has locked away their Elder abilities and Fabien’s voice echoing in their head. As Phyre, players meet the city’s ruling Kindred vampires, each with their own motivations, and uncover Seattle’s dark secrets while reclaiming their lost vampiric powers.

Between nights, as Phyre rests, dreams and voices from Fabien’s past take hold. Emerging as Fabien, players enter a neo-noir 1920s Seattle and use his Malkavian abilities to unravel the mystery behind his murder. Solving the case proves challenging, as Fabien’s fractured perception of reality, a trait of his Malkavian blood, makes it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.

There is one aspect of the announcement from gamescom 2025 that is stirring a great deal of controversy. The base game will ship with four clans, each with their own playstyles described by the devs as “the rebellious Brujah, blood sorcery masters Tremere, justice-driven Banu Haqim, and the persuasive Ventrue”. Locked behind an expansion called Shadows & Silk are two additional clans – Lasombra or Toreador. That has fans feeling like the base game is largely incomplete as a third of their options is being sold separately. That expansion comes either as part of the Deluxe Edition, or as a separate purchase for $21.99/£18.69/€21.99. Additionally, there’s a second expansion called “Santa Monica Memories” ($11.99/£9.99/€11.99) which is listed as a cosmetic pack featuring additional decor inspired by the original game and its dank apartment. You can nab both as part of the Premium Edition.

Pre-orders for the Deluxe Edition (SRP $69.99/£58.50/€69.99) and the Premium Edition (SRP $89.99/£74.99/€89.99) are now available on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. 

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