Well, this sucks
In a somewhat shocking turnaround of events that places the future of the long-awaited Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines continued on shaky ground, narrative designer Brian Mitsoda has been fired with what appears to be a bit of a warning from the higher-ups. Along with Mitsoda, creative director Ka’ai Cluney was also released from Hardsuit Labs, the team behind Bloodlines 2.
Mitsoda, who was involved in the original game design, was a bit of a safe haven in a storm where many fans were worried about how a sequel to the beloved cult classic would turn out. His dismissal comes in the wake of a previously announced delay that sets in Bloodlines 2 back to a tenuous 2021 date.
Paradox Interactive, which has a 30% stake in Hardsuit Labs, issued this statement:
We appreciate and appreciate the contributions of Brian and Ka’ai, who were instrumental in establishing the storyline and dark tone of the game and have helped to ensure that we create a true successor to the icon. Bloodlines. We wish them both the best in their future endeavors.
Mitsoda also released a statement, sent in an email to Rock, Paper, Shotgun. The full text follows:
Until recently, I was called the Narrative Lead on a video game Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 for Hardsuit Labs, Inc. is published by Paradox Interactive (which owns 30% of Hardsuit Labs). After almost five years of involvement with the studio, I was suddenly terminated on 7/16/20.
That this came to me as a shock is underestimated. I have been working on Bloodlines 2 for almost five years. The story and lead role was initially thought of in my living room. I helped develop the stage for Hardsuit Labs and helped repeat the project after Paradox in Las Vegas. I have been leading the narrative from the beginning, working long days and sometimes weekends to provide a successor Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, and I’m never led to believe I did not succeed. Apparently I was also involved in the PR and marketing side of things, even though it was one of the most difficult parts for me. I’m a pretty private person – press and crowds tend to trigger my social anxiety severely (which, if you’ve ever wondered about the gloves, are “armor” that makes me feel less exposed in situations that trigger my anxiety) .
Bloodlines and the fandom of the game means the world to me. That I borrowed my legacy with the franchise, my name, and my participation in marketing efforts for the game, even when it was intensely difficult and took a mental and physical toll. This is all because I wanted to do what was best for the game and the team.
The pride in the work, the fans expectations, and the support of colleagues who started as fans kept me going through these long five years. And I’m incredibly disappointed and frustrated to say that this is where it ends for me on the project.
I was not part of the talks that led to the decision to delay production, and to my knowledge there were no delays caused by the Bloodlines 2 narrative development. I am confident and proud of the work I and my team have put forward. When that work will appear and what form it will take is not known to me.
It was a pleasure working on this game and with a lot of people at Hardsuit Labs and Paradox and I’m sorry I can not see it to the end. I have spent years on some of the best characters and dialogue I have ever written. It’s a lot meant to be heard from the Bloodlines community and I hope that what has finally been delivered is as satisfying as I intended it to be. Thanks to everyone who supported me through the whole project.
Coming in to fill the role of creative director is industry veteran Alexandre Mandryka. Mandryka has previously worked on the Far Cry, Warhammer 40K, en Assassin’s Creed franchises.
It is never good to go two higher ups in a business without warning, especially in the later periods of a project. It hurts even more to know that Mitsoda had thrown so much into the project and will not be there to see it ready.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is slated for release sometime in 2021 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Brian Mitsoda has been fired as narrative lead on Bloodlines 2 [Rock, Paper, Shotgun]
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