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September 26, 2023: the day I believed Vampire The Masquerade Bloodhunt was going to die. Whereas preliminary communications said that the sport’s microtransactions had been formally getting the boot, Bloodhunt neighborhood developer Tobias Solem has confirmed to PCGamesN that “the Bloodhunt servers will proceed to be reside, and we are going to proceed with our timed content material releases.” He does, nonetheless, affirm that “we weren’t in a position to attain the important mass wanted to maintain improvement, which led us to the choice to cease additional improvement” – a stake that pierces my hopeful coronary heart.
Bloodhunt launched again in April of 2022 and marked a quick rebirth for the VTM franchise. A yr and a month later, nonetheless, Sharkmob revealed that the battle royale sport’s lively improvement had ceased and that in-game purchases could be eliminated on September 26, 2023. The evening earlier than, September 25, noticed that solid to the wind, although, with the devs confirming that MTXs will stay enabled and that plans had been “postponed.” It’s an thrilling improvement for individuals who are blissful to assist the sport, however it sadly isn’t precisely what we had been hoping for.
Now don’t get me improper: Bloodhunt wasn’t flawless. It launched with the Nosferatu ruling the roost (fairly the switch-up for the World of Darkness’ most hated clan) and nerfs merely got here in too late. The rocky launch of duos mode was typically disappointing, and the seemingly endless queue occasions that ensued killed the motion useless earlier than it even actually started. Couple that with the inflow of cheaters ruining each second match, and it grew to become a little bit of a recipe for a soon-to-be-dead reside service sport. Even the suave, blue-blooded Ventrue and mysterious Tremere witches couldn’t put it aside from its sorry destiny.
However that doesn’t imply I wasn’t completely gutted. I plowed hours into this sport, selecting up the unique founder’s cross and all the things. I compelled my associate to play it in the course of the early levels of our relationship, and my love for Bloodhunt launched me to the VTM tabletop world, the attract of which is tantalizing. I even created my first-ever male customized character in a videogame – and he was sizzling as hell. In fact he was, he was a Toreador; step apart, Astarion, my Muse is a actual vampire.
Private emotions (and infatuations) apart, although, Bloodhunt served up some neat mechanics. Stacking totally different buffs by consuming Blood Resonances was enjoyable and added a little bit of technique to the gameplay. When you’re working Nosferatu, Melancholic blood is all the time an ideal name, whereas Brujah will wish to snatch up Choleric to reinforce their melee injury; it provides a little bit of technique to a style that’s usually diminished to only ‘pop heads and take names.’
I additionally liked the little side-quests that the assorted Primogens would ship you on. Whereas they had been quick, they gave the world an additional little bit of lore, making it really feel extra actual. And, truthfully, Sharkmob’s Prague continues to be one in every of my favourite maps thus far: I might spend literal hours simply sitting on the prime of the cranes as a stealthed Saboteur or Prowler, trying down over the town streets. Or, alternatively, hand around in the Divine Disco and simply vibe. With the flickering lights of the Burning Church gently illuminating each road nook, Sharkmob’s Prague is one in every of my all-time favourite videogame maps.
The truth is, Bloodhunt itself is simply trendy. The character cosmetics are attractive and make you wish to grind by the battle cross to get there. There wasn’t a single ‘unhealthy’ merchandise there – particularly since you might get Mia’s outfit and grow to be the literal embodiment of Toreador superiority. The customization was limitless, and the character designs really channel the essence of VTM. Bloodhunt nailed the idea however failed to stay the touchdown in what’s a really overcrowded style.
In spite of everything, whether or not you’re keen on them, hate them, or are totally ambivalent about them, it’s no secret that Apex Legends, Warzone, and Fortnite have grow to be the pillars of the battle royale style – in truth, I’d go as far as to say they are the battle royale style on PC. It’s the identical with League of Legends and Dota 2 with regards to MOBAs, and World of Warcraft with MMORPGs – what number of LoL and WoW killers have there been now? Do you keep in mind their names? I don’t.
When Fortnite exploded, everybody tried to get on that bandwagon (or battle bus), however it was by no means going to work out. Fortnite outlined a style whereas concurrently interesting to each adults and children. It has partnerships with a number of the largest manufacturers on the planet, transcends boundaries, and has carved out its personal devoted cultural house. Whereas it is probably not as talked-about because it as soon as was, Fortnite largely owns the BR style – everybody else simply lives there.
Apex Legends is the outlier, in fact. Whereas a few of us nonetheless lose sleep over the lack of a possible Titanfall 3 (responsible, as charged), the stagnation of Name of Obligation: Warzone and the completely ‘meh’ response to Warzone 2 left a spot available in the market. Apex is well-balanced, its characterization is slick, and it’s merely one of many best-playing video games available on the market.
Bloodhunt was all the time going to battle in opposition to two well-established behemoths. Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines is not any Titanfall by way of its modern-day reputation, and whereas Bloodhunt was conceptually nice, it couldn’t hope to amass the identical insta-following generated by the likes of Apex Legends’ stealth launch.
Because the solar rises on Prague’s World of Darkness, it’s a disgrace to see the sport battle regardless of its potential. For the time being the servers will keep up and also you’ll be capable of preserve enjoying and preying, however improvement largely ending means I’ll by no means see what a Malkavian would appear like in Bloodhunt. With the Bloodlines 2 launch date again on the playing cards and a brand new save already began within the unique Bloodlines, I’m holding out hope that VTM sees the renaissance it deserves.
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