Monsters Merge and Cats Purr: Discover More About Cronos: The New Dawn

Developers of Cronos: The New Dawn from Bloober Team have unveiled numerous details about their upcoming survival horror title based on their original IP. Following the success of the Silent Hill 2 remake, Bloober Team clearly aims to solidify their presence in the genre.

The development of this project occurred alongside Silent Hill 2, with the team focused on crafting a game that features richer gameplay elements, limited inventory, tactical choices, and an emphasis on combat. “I believe our creation resembles Resident Evil more,” explains Jacek Zięba, the game’s producer and director, “but we will also delve into a profound psychological narrative.”

A key mechanic of the game involves the “melding” of enemies—abominations known as “Orphans.” If not completely eliminated, they can merge with one another, forming increasingly terrifying and powerful entities. This adds a dynamic element to combat and requires skillful weapon handling. “We designed the entire gameplay around the merging mechanic,” states game director Wojciech Piejko, “our weapons are tailored for crowd control.”

For instance, players can shoot a pistol in the usual manner, or line up enemies and charge a shot to hit multiple targets. Similarly, a charged shot from a shotgun widens the damage radius, allowing players to strike more foes at once.

Wojciech Piejko

Gamers can also anticipate various traps reminiscent of Dark Souls: “Running outside is fine, but venturing inside buildings might not be the best strategy.” The developers emphasize that players who carefully examine their surroundings can avoid many lethal encounters, but the game does not tolerate carelessness.

Among the inspirations for Cronos are not only the genre classics like Resident Evil, Dead Space, and The Last of Us, but also more unconventional sources: the series Dark, films like 12 Monkeys and Annihilation, the manga Blame!, and the cult classic The Thing by John Carpenter. The studio is unafraid of blending influences, as they believe that the Polish setting, visual style, and artistic direction impart uniqueness to the game. But what truly sets Cronos apart? Cats!

In a world filled with gore and dread, players will have the opportunity to collect virtual cats, each inspired by real pets of Bloober employees. These feline companions will serve as collectible items and can be petted. “We even held an actual cat casting—colleagues sent in photos and names of their beloved pets,” shares Piejko.

The game is set in an alternate version of 1980s Poland, where an apocalyptic event known as “The Change” has wiped out humanity. Players will assume the role of the Wanderer—a mysterious Union agent traveling through time to rescue key individuals from the past.

Cronos: The New Dawn will be released on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series with Russian text localization later this year.