Two of the six playable clans in the upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will be locked behind expensive DLC. This is bad news for potential Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 players, as only the Brujah, Ventrue, Tremere, and Banu Haqim will be available as part of the base game, with the Toreador and Lasombra clans sold separately.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2004 RPG set in the same universe. Originally scheduled to release in 2020, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 was initially being developed by Hardsuit Labs. However, the project was delayed, and Paradox pulled development away from Hardsuit Labs in 2021, announcing in 2023 that The Chinese Room would take over the work. Since then, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has been delayed a few times, but it’s finally nearing its release.
Lasombra and Toreador Clans Will Be Locked Behind $22 DLC in Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
Unfortunately, after confirming that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will be released on October 21, Paradox Interactive had some terrible news for fans of the Lasombra and Toreador clans. The base game will cost $60 and come with only four clans, and gamers will have to purchase the “Shadows and Silk” DLC for $22 to gain access to Lasombra and Toreador. Alternatively, they can buy the $90 Premium Edition, which comes with the cosmetic Santa Monica Memories pack, too. This decision will likely not sit well with many fans of the franchise. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 had a very troubled development, and each clan essentially acts as a class, changing the basic gameplay.
While this decision may draw some ire, first impressions of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 seem positive. Critics have praised the game’s characters and the relationship between the protagonist Phyre and the vampire Fabien, while the gameplay had a warm reception. Stepping into the shoes of different clans can lead to different dialogue options, as well as unique skills, so it remains to be seen how the two content-exclusive clans will compare to the standard four.
With the first Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines' status as a cult classic and the fanbase waiting over 20 years for a sequel, there are some high expectations for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 amid some uncertainty. Time will tell whether Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will eventually become a hit, a cult classic like the first entry, or if the title will fail to gain the same level of success.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 63 /100 Critics Rec: 27%
- Released
- October 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Nudity, Drug Reference, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- The Chinese Room
- Publisher(s)
- Paradox Interactive
