Bloober Team, a studio that has made a name for itself as a purveyor of psychological horror games, is reinventing itself as it moves away from the atmospheric, narrative-driven titles it has been known for.
In its next chapter, which it’s dubbing Bloober Team 3.0, the studio will focus on developing “mass-market horror” projects that prioritize action and player interaction.
According to the studio, the first game to embody this new philosophy will be the much-anticipated Silent Hill 2 Remake.
Piotr Babieno, Bloober Team’s CEO, spoke with Engadget about this strategic shift. “We focused on the story, we focused on the mood, we focused on the quality of graphics and music,” Babieno explained. “But we didn’t put a lot of attention on the gameplay mechanics.” But as the company transitions into Bloober Team 3.0, that’s set to change.
Despite the success of atmospheric titles like Layers of Fear, Observer, and The Medium, the studio believes a change in the direction is necessary to reach a broader audience. Babieno acknowledged that the company hit a creative ceiling with its psychological horror games, and the move to mass-market horror is a fresh, new approach to breaking that barrier.
Silent Hill 2, an eerie psychological horror game adored for its atmospheric storytelling, might seem an unlikely candidate for Bloober Team’s first foray into mass-market horror. And indeed, the decision has stirred skepticism and debates among fans and critics. The shift toward gameplay mechanics and action-driven experiences appears to contradict the soul of Silent Hill 2, which was revered for its psychological terror rather than fast-paced action.
To make matters worse, the reveal comes after leaks that the remake of Silent Hill 2 will be much larger than the original, which isn’t always a good sign.
However, this transition might not be as stark as it seems. Bloober Team’s recent release, a remastered version of Layers of Fear, received high praise and a 90% score in a review, demonstrating the studio’s potential to deliver engaging gameplay alongside atmospheric horror. Babieno is hopeful that this balance can be achieved with their future titles.
Underlying this strategic shift is an existential perspective. Babieno pointed to the tumultuous state of the world – climate change, global economic crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – as factors shaping our collective psyche. He sees horror games as a form of catharsis, a way for players to confront and grapple with the fears permeating our reality. “We would like to deliver games that allow us to deal with our fears,” he said.
Despite the studio’s shift and the pressures of the gaming industry, Bloober Team is resolute about staying independent. “Only then will we be able to make something new, something fresh and creative,” Babieno stated. “I don’t want to create games by watching an Excel spreadsheet. I would like to deliver some new milestones of horror, our niche.”
It is evident that Bloober Team is ready to evolve and embrace new challenges in the ever-evolving gaming landscape. As Bloober Team steps away from the atmospheric psychological horror games that defined them and steps into the realm of mass-market horror, all eyes will be on this studio, waiting to see what Bloober Team 3.0 is truly capable of.
