Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, sequel to the popular game Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, is an upcoming RPG title set to release in October, 2025. Despite the imminent release of Bloodlines 2, fan backlash has led gaming studio Paradox to issue refunds for PlayStation users who pre-ordered the game.

Fan outrage was sparked by certain “clans” or classes being locked behind an additional DLC rather than included in the base game. In the original Bloodlines, fans were given the option to choose between seven different clans, such as the Brujah, Gangrel, and Tremere. Each clan offers a different experience for the player, as gameplay and narrative are impacted by which clan the player belongs to. 

Bloodlines 2, however, has a more limited selection of clans than its previous title. In the base game, which costs $59.99, the player only has access to four clans. The Brujah, Tremere, Banu Haqim, and Ventrue clans. With these four options, players have the ability to play as a brawler, mage, stealth-based assassin, and hypnotist-esque character respectively. By buying the premium edition of Bloodlines 2 at $89.99, players get access to the additional Toreador and Lasombra clans, who allow players to play as either seductors or shadow-manipulators. 

Given that there were fewer clans than in the original Bloodlines, and a third of the ones available were locked behind a $20 DLC, fans were furious with Paradox. On the quote-reposts and comments under an X post discussing the DLC, fans were confused and upset by Paradox’s decision. Part of the issue was that Toreador, one of the DLC clans, was in the base game of the original Bloodlines. Therefore, long-time fans of the series felt that they were being forced to buy the DLC in order to access their previous favorite playstyle.

Hi. We’re making adjustments and will share the details on Sept 17. Big changes take time, and we want to do this right.

PS Store pre-orders will be refunded on Sept 8. You’ll be able to pre-order again before launch on Oct 21.

Thanks for your patience; we’ll share more soon!

— Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (@VtM_Bloodlines) September 5, 2025

The backlash has been so severe that Paradox released an official statement. The studio announced that “adjustments” are coming to Bloodlines 2, and players will get an update regarding these changes on September 17th. PlayStation players who pre-ordered the game are getting refunded this Monday on September 8th. After the refund, the studio promises that players will be able to pre-order Bloodlines 2 again prior to its release on October 21st.