Bithell Games is an independent game studio that previously worked on Amberspire, Tron: Catalyst, and Tron: Identity. They specialize in sci-fi stories, but on July 8th they posted teaser for their new project Vampirium: 1997. An immersive simulation game where the players are descendents of Dracula’s empire.
In this world, Dracula has become the King of England and players are tasked with securing his empire by eliminating his enemies. They will hunt throughout multiple locations and discover their own playstyle to execute each mission. Missions can be resolved in a variety of ways. Players can choose to complete their objectives through stealth, fighting, or persuasion.
The announcement trailer reveals a skill tree, map layouts, dialogue scenes, and the level of immersion players can expect. The branching skill tree is where players can advance their abilities. They can either hone powers to become a wrathful creature of the night or a secretive revenant. It is up to players to choose if they want to rampage against Dracula’s enemies or manipulate them with a silver tongue.
Gameplay will feature locked-down locations for players to infiltrate and a range of weapons that can be found around the environment. Players can uncover secrets from Dracula’s enemies, earn his trust, and also hypnotize servants to access blocked areas. Whatever path they choose, players can either keep casualties to a minimum or leave a bloody trail in their wake.
Vampirium: 1997 is available for wishlist on Steam and will be coming to Early Access. A date has yet to be confirmed, but here is what players can expect. New locations released will add new characters, powers, and settings. Currently, there are several locations for players to run through. These maps will give players time to explore the game’s system and the interactions available so far.
The game is expected to be in Early Access for two years, though this is a rough estimate. Bithell Games plans on releasing Vampirium: 1997 once the game is in its best possible state. The price of the game will also increase after it comes out of Early Access, but more news on that will be shared closer to the launch date.