Silent Hill 2 Remake Devs Want to Prove That They've Evolved

Bloober Team, riding high on the positive reception of their Silent Hill 2 remake, is determined 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

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 and critics alike have praised the final product. However, the team acknowledges the initial skepticism they faced and is using this opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities beyond a single successful title.

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 release of The Medium.

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 such a beloved franchise fueled their determination to succeed.

Zieba commented, "Nobody believed we could deliver, and we delivered. That was a big honor, that we, as Bloober, could work with Silent Hill and Konami." The team's dedication and perseverance resulted in an 86 Metacritic score, a testament to their hard work. 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: A New Era

Piejko views Cronos: The New Dawn, featuring a time-traveling protagonist navigating a pandemic-ravaged future, as a showcase of their ability to create compelling original IPs. The team leveraged the experience gained from the Silent Hill 2 remake to enhance gameplay, moving beyond the more limited scope of earlier titles like Layers of Fear and Observer. Zieba noted, "the basis [for Cronos] when we started in pre-production was there [thanks to] the Silent Hill team."

The Silent Hill 2 remake marks a pivotal moment, representing "Bloober Team 3.0." The positive reception of the Cronos reveal trailer further bolsters their confidence. Zieba's vision is 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 concludes, "We gathered a team that loves horror...and we don't want to [switch genres]."