Bloober Team, riding high on the positive reception of their Silent Hill 2 remake, is eager to prove their capabilities extend beyond a single successful project. This article explores their next venture and their ambitions for the future.
Bloober Team's Continued Ascent
Building on Success and Addressing Past Skepticism
The overwhelmingly positive critical and fan response to the Silent Hill 2 remake has been a significant boost for Bloober Team. Despite the substantial changes from the original, the remake exceeded expectations. However, the team acknowledges the initial skepticism surrounding their involvement and aims to use this success to solidify their reputation.
At the Xbox Partner Preview on October 16th, Bloober Team unveiled their next 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's release.
Director Jacek Zieba described Cronos: The New Dawn as their "second punch" in a two-hit combo, with the Silent Hill 2 remake being the "first." He highlighted the initial doubt surrounding their ability to handle a project of this magnitude, given their previous work.
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 dedication and perseverance, ultimately resulting in an 86 Metacritic score, is a testament to their commitment. Piejko added, "They made the impossible possible, and it was a bumpy road...The pressure was big on them, and they delivered."
Bloober Team 3.0: Evolution and Refinement
Piejko positioned Cronos: The New Dawn, a time-travel narrative centered around "The Traveler," as a demonstration of their ability to create compelling original IP. The game features a journey through 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 aims to build upon their past works, such as Layers of Fear and Observer, which had more limited gameplay mechanics. Zieba noted that the foundation for Cronos benefited from their work on Silent Hill 2.
The Silent Hill 2 remake marks a turning point, representing "Bloober Team 3.0." Encouraged by the positive reception of both the Cronos reveal and the Silent Hill 2 remake, the team is optimistic about their future.
Zieba aspires for Bloober Team to be recognized 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 concluded, "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."
