Over the years, I have kept a close eye on horror developers as a self-proclaimed super-fan, andBloober Teamhas managed to stand out in an increasingly busy genre. With games likeLayers of FearandBlair Witch,Bloober Teamwas on my radar from the start, but the developer has really proven its prowess with last year’sSilent Hill 2remake. Recreating the atmosphere ofSilent Hill 2is no easy task, but Bloober Team was up to the task.
After the success ofSilent Hill 2, Bloober Team quickly unveiled its next project withCronos: The New Dawn. Not only is this a new game from the developer, but it’s a full-blown original IP.Cronos: The New Dawnlooks to be a blend ofSilent Hill 2’s gameplay andDead Space’s grotesque body horror, promising a chilling sci-fi experience. Now that Konami has confirmed thatBloober Team will be returning to remake the firstSilent Hill, the developer’s partnership with the psychological horror franchise and the promise of its own compelling IP set the stage for Bloober Team to be the go-to studio for this special brand of horror.
Bloober Team Has Been Staking its Claim as Survival Horror’s Next Big Developer
The Silent Hill 2 Remake Was One of 2024’s Biggest Surprises
Leading up toSilent Hill 2’s remake, there was a lot of skepticism. Considering how belovedSilent Hill 2is, the concern surrounding the project was understandable. Sure, Bloober Team saw a respectable amount of success withLayers of Fear,The Medium, andBlair Witch, but it had yet to handle a heavy-hitter liketheSilent Hillfranchise.
It’s natural to be protective of a game when it’s been announced that it’s being remade, but Bloober Team demonstrated that it may just be the perfect developer to take over the series.TheSilent Hill 2remakeeven received five different nominations at the 2024 Game Awards, further proving how far it had managed to come since the initial skeptical reactions.
It’s currently unclear if Bloober Team will also develop a remake ofSilent Hill 3. Considering that it’s a direct sequel to the first game, it’s quite possible, but the success of theSH1remake will likely be the deciding factor in whether a remake happens or not.
Cronos: The New Dawn Teases Mind-Bending Horror
There seems to be a lot ofinspirations behindCronos: The New Dawn. According to past interviews with the game’s co-directors, Jacek Zieba and Wojciech Piejko,Cronos: The New Dawnhas been inspired by stories likeThe Thing,12 Monkeys,Dark Souls, andResident Evil, in addition to the clearDead Spaceinfluence.
The game may not have a release date yet, but it could shake up the fall horror lineup. Right now,Silent Hill fandDirective 8020are mainly holding down the season when it comes to horror, butCronos: The New Dawnis bound to be a strong contender, especially with Bloober Team’s fresh reputation behind it.
Cronos: The New Dawnis centered around time travel. Players jump back in time to harvest souls from the past in order to help survive the wastelands of the future.
Bloober Team is Going All in On Survival Horror
AfterCronos: The New Dawnand the remake of the originalSilent Hill, it will be fascinating to see what kind of horror story the developer takes on next. Of course, there is always the chance thatBloober Team could aim to switch things up, but right now, the studio’s team has proven that when it comes to psychologically charged survival horror, the developer has what it takes to stand out with a blend of major franchises and fresh IP.
