Bloober Team's successful Silent Hill 2 Remake has set the stage for their next project, a chance to solidify their position in the horror genre and prove their capabilities beyond a single hit. This article explores their upcoming game and their vision for the future.
Bloober Team's Path to Redemption
Building on Success
The overwhelmingly positive response to the Silent Hill 2 Remake has been a significant boost for Bloober Team. Despite significant changes from the original, the remake garnered praise from both critics and fans, effectively silencing much of the initial skepticism surrounding the studio's involvement. However, Bloober Team acknowledges the past doubts and aims to build lasting trust with their next endeavor.
At the Xbox Partner Preview on October 16th, Bloober Team unveiled their new horror title, Cronos: The New Dawn. Game Designer Wojciech Piejko emphasized a departure from the Silent Hill 2 style, stating in a Gamespot interview, "We don't want to make a similar game." Development on Cronos began in 2021, shortly after the release of The Medium.
Director Jacek Zieba described Cronos: The New Dawn as their "second punch" in a two-hit combo, with the Silent Hill 2 Remake serving as the "first." He highlighted the studio's underdog status, noting the initial doubt surrounding their ability to handle such a beloved franchise. Zieba expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, "Nobody believed we could deliver, and we delivered." The team's success, reflected in an 86 Metacritic score, is a testament to their perseverance amidst online criticism and intense pressure. Piejko added, "They made the impossible possible, and it was a bumpy road because of all the hate on the internet. The pressure was big on them, and they delivered, and for the company, it's an amazing moment."
Bloober Team 3.0: Evolution and Refinement
Cronos: The New Dawn, featuring a time-traveling protagonist known as The Traveler, aims to showcase Bloober Team's ability to create compelling original IPs. The game's narrative involves navigating the past and future to save individuals and alter a dystopian future ravaged by pandemic and mutants.
Leveraging the experience gained from the Silent Hill 2 Remake, Bloober Team seeks to evolve beyond their earlier titles, such as Layers of Fear and Observer, which featured more limited gameplay mechanics. Zieba stated that the foundation for Cronos was laid during the Silent Hill project's pre-production.
The Silent Hill 2 Remake marks a pivotal moment, representing "Bloober Team 3.0." The positive reception to the Cronos reveal trailer further bolsters their confidence. Piejko expressed encouragement from both the Cronos reveal and the Silent Hill 2 Remake's success, which has significantly improved the studio's reputation.
Zieba's ambition is to establish Bloober Team as a leading name in horror, emphasizing the studio's discovered niche. He stated, "We want to find our niche, and we think we found our niche, so now we just--let's evolve with it." Piejko added, "We gathered a team that loves horror...So I think, for us, it would not be easy to switch [to other genres], and we don't want to."
