Bloober Team, the studio behind the upcoming remake of the original Silent Hill, has released a developer diary detailing the combat mechanics of their next title, Cronos: The New Dawn. The developers are focusing on creating a tactical combat experience, with players needing to stay alert and strategize during each encounter.
The game’s primary enemies, the Orphans, have the unique ability to merge with one another, meaning that when one is defeated, its essence can be absorbed by other Orphans, making them even more dangerous.
The game’s encounters are carefully designed, offering players the chance to use the environment to their advantage. Players might choose to shoot explosive canisters, lure enemies into traps, or engage in direct melee combat, depending on their preferred approach. Bloober Team’s developers themselves adopt different strategies, with some favoring offensive tactics and others going for a defensive style. This variation is influenced by the player’s loadout, playstyle, and available resources.
In Cronos: The New Dawn, players will have access to a variety of weapons, tools, and abilities, each offering a different playstyle. Resource management will play a crucial role in gameplay, with more aggressive players opting to craft ammunition, while those focused on defense might prioritize health packs.
As with other survival horror games, progression is an important aspect. Players will be able to upgrade their weapons, tools, and suits via a detailed progression tree. Additionally, Bloober has designed distinct enemy roles, including runners who rush the player, ranged enemies that force players to close the distance, and bruisers, massive tank-like enemies whose main goal is to steal as many resources as possible. These differences in enemy types will create unique encounters that require players to think on their feet and determine the best targets in each situation.
Though a fixed release date is yet to be confirmed, Cronos: The New Dawn is slated for release in Fall 2025, with more details expected to come in the months ahead.