Paradox outlines a revenue-sharing plan for Vampire: The Masquerade fan games

Many publishers and builders are very protecting of their mental property (what’s up, Nintendo?). However Paradox Interactive and World of Darkness are taking issues in a barely totally different path. As a part of the Unbound challenge, they’re going to let anybody make a Vampire: The Masquerade fan recreation so long as they abide by sure guidelines.

Builders must get their video games authorized by Paradox and may solely provide them by way of the Itch.io storefront. They’ll cost for his or her creations if they need, however they’re going to want to offer Paradox a 33 p.c lower of income.

The builders will personal all recreation property that do not use World of Darkness mental property and may promote them in artwork books, soundtracks and so forth. They can not run crowdfunding campaigns for his or her challenge, nevertheless, and are not ready to make use of science fiction, steampunk or cyberpunk settings. Past these (and some different restrictions), builders can let their imaginations run wild.

The Unbound program stems from a profitable recreation jam that came about in 2021. “Following the Vampire Jam final 12 months, we realized how passionate our group is about creating Vampire: The Masquerade video games,” World of Darkness group developer Martyna Zych mentioned in an announcement. “Whereas we might solely award one grand prize to Heartless Lullaby, we knew we needed to create a platform that empowered our group to work on the tasks they love whereas giving them the help they must be profitable.”

Builders created greater than 80 video games throughout Vampire Jam and 6 of these can be found by way of Unbound on the outset. They embrace survival horror recreation Descent, puzzle challenge The Chantry Trials and strategic card title The Recreation of Elders. There is a first-person shooter known as The Autumn Folks. It’s also possible to take a look at point-and-click journey Prodigal in addition to 4x technique and roleplaying recreation Praxis. All are free to obtain.

It is neat to see a writer and transmedia model approve fan-made video games. The truth that all of these six titles are in several genres is fascinating as properly, because it reveals the breadth of what builders can do once they have the liberty to be artistic with a notable IP. 

Because it occurs, these titles may be the one manner for followers to play a brand new Vampire: The Masquerade recreation for some time. Final 12 months, Paradox parted methods with Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 studio Hardsuit Labs and delayed the sport indefinitely. The writer mentioned in November it was proud of the progress made by the sport’s new, unnamed developer, however the launch window stays unknown.