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

Bloober Team's successful Silent Hill 2 Remake marks a turning point. Their next project aims to solidify their position as a major player in the horror genre, proving their recent success wasn't a fluke. This article explores their journey and future plans.

Bloober Team's Redemption Arc

Building Confidence and Exceeding Expectations

The overwhelmingly positive reception of the Silent Hill 2 Remake has been a significant boost for Bloober Team. Despite the substantial changes from the original, the remake impressed both critics and fans. However, the team hasn't forgotten the initial skepticism they faced. They aim to leverage this newfound trust to demonstrate their continued growth and capabilities.

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 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's release.

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 acknowledged their underdog status, highlighting the initial doubt surrounding their ability to handle a project of such significance, given their previous work didn't include 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 pressure was immense, leading the company to publicly request patience from fans.

Ultimately, Bloober Team succeeded, achieving an 86 Metacritic score. Piejko reflected, "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 positions Cronos: The New Dawn as a testament to their ability to create compelling original IPs. Players will take on the role of "The Traveler," navigating time to save individuals and alter a dystopian future ravaged by pandemic and mutants.

Bloober Team intends to build upon the lessons learned from the Silent Hill 2 Remake, moving beyond the simpler gameplay mechanics 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 represents a significant evolution, marking "Bloober Team 3.0." Encouraged by the positive response to the Cronos reveal trailer and the success of the Silent Hill 2 Remake, they are optimistic about the future.

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 adds, "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."