Reimagining Silent Hill 2: Devs Showcase Gameplay Evolution

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 numerous changes from the original, the remake resonated with fans and critics alike. However, the team acknowledges the initial skepticism and aims to use this success as a springboard for future projects. They're determined to show they're more than a one-hit wonder.

Their latest horror title, Cronos: The New Dawn, unveiled at the Xbox Partner Preview on October 16th, represents a deliberate departure from their Silent Hill 2 work. Game Designer Wojciech Piejko emphasized this distinction, stating, "We don't want to make a similar game [to Silent Hill 2]." Development on Cronos began in 2021, shortly after The Medium's release.

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 and pessimism surrounding their involvement in the Silent Hill project fueled their determination to prove themselves.

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. As horror creators, we love Silent Hill, like, I think, most horror fans [do]." The team even issued a public statement requesting patience from fans during development.

Their efforts paid off, resulting in an 86 Metacritic score. Piejko noted, "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."

Evolution: Bloober Team 3.0

Piejko views Cronos: The New Dawn, a time-travel narrative centered around "The Traveler," as a testament to their ability to create compelling original IPs. The game features travel between 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 evolve beyond their earlier titles, Layers of Fear and Observer, which had comparatively less gameplay depth. Zieba stated that "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 turning point, representing "Bloober Team 3.0." The positive initial response to the Cronos reveal trailer further bolsters their confidence. Piejko expressed encouragement from the success of both Cronos and the Silent Hill 2 remake, which have significantly improved the studio's reputation.

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. [...] And how that happens is more complex, but it also happens organically in a way, like with [2016's] Layers of Fear, people in the studio were like, 'Okay, we made some shitty games before, but we [can] evolve.'"

Piejko added, "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."