Paradox Issues Refunds for Bloodlines 2 PlayStation Pre-Orders Amid DLC Backlash

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (Image Credit: Paradox Interactive)

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Premium Edition pre-orders on the PlayStation Store will be refunded starting September 8, ahead of wider adjustments planned for the game’s pricing and content.

The update was shared through the game’s community developer, DebbieElla, who explained that this move is part of a broader set of changes set to be revealed on September 17. She reassured fans that the refund process is "intentional," adding that players will be able to re-pre-order the Premium Edition before the game launches on October 21.

Why Sudden Refund

This development comes after weeks of backlash surrounding Paradox Interactive’s decision to lock two playable clans — Lasombra and Toreador — behind the “Shadows and Silk” DLC pack, priced at around $22, or bundled into the $89.99 Premium Edition.

With the standard edition set at $59.99, many players felt that the “complete” game experience was being split unfairly, especially since the base title only offered four clans compared to the seven available in the original Bloodlines.

According to Paradox and developer The Chinese Room, the extra clans were created as "additional content beyond the original scope" of the game, which is why they were offered separately. Paradox representatives referred to this as a “business choice,” a decision that did not go over well with fans.

Now, by refunding PlayStation pre-orders, Paradox seems to be preparing the ground for a bigger course correction.

This refund move may be linked to PlayStation’s store policies, which don’t allow partial refunds if editions or pricing are adjusted. Steam and Xbox platforms, on the other hand, offer more flexibility, which could explain why refunds are only happening on PlayStation for now.

The community is already speculating about what these adjustments could mean. Many players believe Paradox may add all six clans into the base game, restructuring the DLC and Premium Edition to focus on side stories, cosmetics, or other optional extras instead.

Despite the controversy, excitement for the release hasn’t completely died down. Early previews of Bloodlines 2 have been generally positive, praising its atmosphere and role-playing depth. But the real test for Paradox will be regaining player trust after months of missteps, delays, and difficult development changes.

With September 17 marked as the date for full clarification, fans are now waiting to see if Paradox will indeed fold the clans into the standard edition or find another solution.