PC Gamer Calls Bloodlines 2 DLC Clans a «Money-Making Move» and Says They Belong in the Base Game

The long-awaited release date announcement of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 and the start of pre-orders were overshadowed by a controversial decision from The Chinese Room and Paradox Interactive. Two clans will be unavailable to standard edition owners, and as a fresh PC Gamer review shows, this move could be a major mistake.

According to The Chinese Room, the Lasombra and Toreador clans will only appear in the Shadows & Silk expansion included in the game’s extended edition priced at $90. The DLC grants access to the unique abilities of these clans, along with eight outfits. Other players will have to make do with Ventrue, Tremere, Brujah, and Banu Haqim.

PC Gamer journalist Fraser Brown tested both premium clans and shared his impressions. The Lasombra are portrayed as domineering and ruthless vampires, founders of the Sabbat, most of whom eventually swore allegiance to the Camarilla. Choosing this clan leads to distrust from other Kindred, but these diplomatic difficulties are offset by powerful abilities such as shadow manipulation. While not recommended for beginners, the Lasombra offer rich roleplay opportunities thanks to their dark backstory and unique powers, making them an appealing choice for series veterans.

The Toreador, meanwhile, will be familiar to players from the original Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines. Just like before, they are natural manipulators with refined tastes and a flair for extravagance. Their abilities focus on speed and seduction, allowing them to pit enemies against each other in battle. According to PC Gamer, while specific dialogue options from the first game are missing early on, the flirtatious and suggestive Toreador lines are still intact.

The most important takeaway, however, is that The Chinese Room risks losing much by locking both clans behind a paid DLC. Lasombra and Toreador feel like they belong in the base game, and their premium status is seen by the journalist as unfair — even potentially disastrous for Bloodlines 2’s marketing campaign.

Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 launches on October 21. We also got access to the opening hours and shared our impressions in a separate review.