Paradox Announces 37 Million Dollar Write Down After Bloodlines 2 Misses Sales Targets, but DLC Support Will Continue
Paradox Interactive has announced a significant financial write down following the underperformance of Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2. In an official press release, the company confirmed a non cash write down of approximately 37 million dollars in capitalized development costs after the game failed to meet internal sales projections.
Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester stated that the company remains proud of the work delivered by The Chinese Room, which took over development after the departure of the original studio Hardsuit Labs. However, Wester acknowledged that sales fell well below expectations and openly accepted responsibility on the publisher’s side. He noted that Paradox’s lack of experience in the action RPG genre resulted in an inaccurate forecast of market potential and a misalignment of expectations.
Wester reaffirmed that Paradox will return to focusing on its core strengths in the grand strategy genre. The publisher is known for franchises such as Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Victoria, Imperator Rome and Stellaris. Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja previously stated that any future Bloodlines projects would likely be licensed externally rather than developed within Paradox owned studios.
Despite the commercial disappointment, Paradox confirmed that Bloodlines 2 will still receive its planned post launch roadmap. Two story driven DLC packs remain in development, along with free updates that will continue to refine and expand the game. The Loose Cannon DLC will focus on Benny Muldoon, the former Sheriff of the Seattle Court. The second DLC, The Flower and the Flame, will allow players to embody the Toreador vampire Ysabella. Loose Cannon is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2026, with The Flower and the Flame arriving in the third quarter.
In a recent interview, former Creative Director Dan Pinchbeck revealed that he attempted to convince Paradox to change the game’s title, arguing that the studio did not have the resources or development time required to deliver a fully realized successor to the original Bloodlines. Paradox declined the proposal, and the final product has launched to mixed reviews and sales far below expectations.
The write down marks yet another setback in the long troubled development history of Bloodlines 2, which has seen studio transitions, delays and massive restructuring across multiple years. Although DLC content will continue, the performance of Bloodlines 2 raises significant questions about the future of World of Darkness adaptations at Paradox.
Do you believe the Bloodlines series can recover with future externally licensed projects, or has Paradox permanently damaged confidence in the franchise
