Bloober Team, riding high on the positive reception of their Silent Hill 2 remake, is eager to prove their recent success wasn't a fluke. Their next project aims to solidify their position in the horror genre.
Bloober Team's Path to Redemption
Building on Success, Moving Beyond
The overwhelmingly positive response to the Silent Hill 2 remake has been a significant boost for Bloober Team. Despite the considerable changes from the original, fans embraced the remake. However, the team acknowledges the initial skepticism and aims to use this success to dispel any lingering doubts.
At the Xbox Partner Preview on October 16th, Bloober Team unveiled their upcoming horror title, Cronos: The New Dawn. Game Designer Wojciech Piejko emphasized a departure from their Silent Hill 2 work, stating to Gamespot, "We don't want to make a similar game." Development on Cronos began in 2021, shortly after The Medium launched.
Director Jacek Zieba described Cronos: The New Dawn as their "second punch" following the "first punch" of the Silent Hill 2 remake, highlighting their underdog status. The initial doubt surrounding their ability to handle a survival horror title, given their past work, fueled their determination.
Zieba commented, "Nobody believed we could deliver, and we delivered. That was a big honor...as horror creators, we love Silent Hill." The team's commitment and perseverance, culminating in an 86 Metacritic score, underscore their achievement. Piejko added, "They made the impossible possible...the pressure was big on them, and they delivered."
Evolution: Bloober Team 3.0
Cronos: The New Dawn, according to Piejko, showcases their ability to create compelling original IPs. Players will take on the role of "The Traveler," navigating between past and future to alter a dystopian timeline ravaged by pandemic and mutants.
Bloober Team leverages the experience gained from the Silent Hill 2 remake to evolve beyond their earlier titles like Layers of Fear and Observer, which featured less robust gameplay. Zieba noted that the foundation for Cronos was laid during the Silent Hill project's pre-production.
The Silent Hill 2 remake marks a significant turning point, representing "Bloober Team 3.0." The positive response to the Cronos reveal trailer further bolsters their confidence. Zieba aims to establish Bloober Team as a leading horror developer, stating, "We want to find our niche, and we think we found our niche, so now we just—let's evolve with it." Piejko concludes, "We gathered a team that loves horror...it would not be easy to switch [to other genres], and we don't want to."
