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 capabilities extend beyond a single success. This article delves into their next project and their future ambitions.

Bloober Team's Continued Ascent

Building on Success, Moving Beyond

The overwhelmingly positive response to the Silent Hill 2 remake has solidified Bloober Team's position in the gaming world. Despite significant changes from the original, the remake was lauded by critics and fans alike. However, the team acknowledges past skepticism and aims to demonstrate their consistent ability to deliver high-quality horror experiences.

At the October 16th Xbox Partner Preview, Bloober Team unveiled their new horror title, Cronos: The New Dawn. Game Designer Wojciech Piejko emphasized a departure from their previous work, stating to Gamespot, "We don't want to make a similar game [to Silent Hill 2]." Development on Cronos began in 2021, shortly after The Medium was released.

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 the studio's ability to handle such a beloved franchise, given their previous lack of experience with survival horror.

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's dedication and perseverance, culminating in an 86 Metacritic score, are testaments to their commitment. 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: Evolution and Refinement

Piejko positions Cronos: The New Dawn, featuring a time-traveling protagonist navigating a pandemic-ravaged future, as a showcase of their ability to craft compelling original IPs. Leveraging the experience gained from the Silent Hill 2 remake, Bloober Team aims to enhance gameplay elements compared to their 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 aims to establish Bloober Team 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 concludes, "We gathered a team that loves horror," Piejko adds. "So I think, for us, it would not be easy to switch [to other genres], and we don't want to."