PREVIEW – Their new game wants to define itself as a true “horror canon”, and with the recent Silent Hill 2 Remake, they’ve recently convinced everyone that they can do just that. Team Bloober’s new game, Cronos: The New Dawn, takes inspiration from the “survival horror” genre created by EA and Visceral Games. 

While Bloober Team is a studio with an extensive horror game portfolio, not all of their games have been a runaway success. The Polish team, which first came to attention in 2016 with Layers of Fear, has faced several problems with Blair Witch, which has received some of the worst reviews to date. However, they have now proved their mettle with Silent Hill 2 Remake, which has clearly made them a success in every way. With their next game, Cronos: The New Dawn, they are not only exploring the horror genre further, but are also turning to giants of the genre such as Dead Space and Resident Evil. 

Dead Space is the biggest inspiration 

In a recent interview with IGN, co-directors Jacek Zieba and Wojciech Piejko revealed that Dead Space was a key inspiration for Cronos: The New Dawn, particularly its focus on intense and raw combat. Zieba explained that, similar to Dead Space’s mutilation mechanics, Cronos will feature unique combat mechanics that will be central to the entire adventure, although details are being kept under wraps for now. In addition, Zieba also mentioned the influence of Alan Wake, particularly its iconic flashlight, which will be reinterpreted in this new title while retaining its essence: “to save the player in the most difficult moments.” 

Tension and fear of the unknown are key elements in Cronos, and Piejko says combat requires a strategic approach, offering a deeper challenge. “You don’t just run and gun; you have to think through every move and consider it down to the smallest detail,” Piejko said. It’s this strategic approach that sets Cronos apart from other action games, bringing it closer to the essence of survival horror, where every decision can mean the difference between life and death. 

Resident Evil was also the inspiration for the game 

Zieba mentioned that the Resident Evil series, both its classic versions and its remakes, have been a very important influence on the team. “Beyond Dead Space, Japanese survival horror, like Resident Evil, was a very, very big inspiration, especially in the physical horror area,” the co-lead explained. This influence is reflected in the game’s design, which offers an unsettling atmosphere and challenges that recall the most memorable moments from Capcom’s iconic series. 

With a blend of futuristic aesthetics, mechanics inspired by the genre’s great titles and a narrative focused on the mystery of time, Cronos: The New Dawn is set to become one of the most prominent horror and survival games of the coming year. The Bloober Team has set high expectations among horror fans and has shown the potential of this new project, for which no release date has yet been announced. 

More details about Cronos: The New Dawn 

“The key to success here is to create a great atmosphere and build build build-ups before the fight scenes that might trick the player into expecting an attack that ultimately doesn’t happen. Overall, the combat in Cronos leans more towards Resident Evil and Dead Space, but we’re still storytellers, so expect a strong emphasis on story and atmospheric exploration as well,” Piejko noted. 

Story details 

The cinematic trailer introduces a character who enters a dilapidated building in a protective suit, where sinister humanoid monsters begin to chase him and shoot at him during their attack. 

Later – or perhaps earlier – the same bloody figure plays chess with an elderly woman before performing some sort of procedure on her, as she resignedly watches her fate. 

Finally, we see the protagonist enter a distorted hellish landscape, with a tower in the distance, his weapon at the ready. The walls are lined with the same mutated creatures that have appeared before. They strongly suggest that this is the scene of the city that was visible at the beginning of the game, after some kind of catastrophe. 

The studio has confirmed that the game will be released for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X|S. 

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-