Two weeks after the previous narrative-focused blog post, the developers of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 have now discussed their artistic approach, sharing a few new good-looking screenshots for good measure.
Bloodlines 2 has been designed with the Neo-Noir art style in mind, inspired by the likes of Blade Runner and John Wick. Neo-Noir focuses on contrast and atmosphere, which is a perfect fit for such a game. Associate Art Director Ben Matthews explains:
Vampires inhabit the dark, it’s a place you need to use for safety but dark places feel more dead because of this. The darkness becomes the place where we feel the most secure, the most in tune with the world around us.
You need to be able to see where you’re going even in the dark so that’s why we’ve used a very cold colour pallet for these places. That lets us use warm colours to add life to the rest of the world that’s lit up. Humans live in the light and because you need to maintain the Masquerade, that makes the light more dangerous for you. Whether it’s delving into the depths of Seattle’s nightlife or stalking your prey for the next feed, leaving the darkness and entering the light, warm human world should be a calculated risk but one we ultimately need to take. Vampire senses are stronger than a mortal person’s so we have very a vibrant style juxtaposed between the dead Vampire world and the dangerous, energetic human world. All of these elements are accentuated in Neo-Noir’s unique use of colour and tone; the changes between light and dark have always been sudden and stark.
The blog post briefly goes over the making of Seattle, which won’t be a perfect replica even though the developers have researched the city through maps, Google Earth, and in-person visits. Unreal Engine 5’s features are being leveraged to deliver an ‘impactful atmosphere’ through the presence of snow (Bloodlines 2 takes place during Christmas time) and fog.
Following a near-cancellation, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is now being developed by The Chinese Room for a scheduled Fall 2024 release window on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. The developers have promised to share information on all the playable clans before the end of this year.
