I just saw Bloodlines 2 finally fix saves — but The Chinese Room’s roadmap has one catch I can’t

Why This Actually Matters for Bloodlines 2 Players

Bloodlines 2 finally lets you quit without losing progress. That “save on exit” addition in patch 1.0.4 sounds small, but it changes how you actually play. No more babysitting missions or re-running chunky quest sections because you dared to log off at dawn. For a game that launched with janky combat and rough edges, this is the first fix that meaningfully reduces friction for everyone, not just those chasing niche bugs.

Key Takeaways

• Patch 1.0.4 adds “save on exit” and fixes nasty bugs, including NPCs clipping into walls in the underground.
• Patch 1.0.5 (targeted before year’s end) brings an FOV slider, a motion blur toggle, and true manual saves.
• Roadmap teases a Christmas update with Phyre cosmetics, custom difficulty, and the option to skip Fabien’s missions after your first completion.
• Through 2026: a Valentine’s update, plus two story DLCs – Loose Cannon (Benny Muldoon) in Q2 and Ysabella’s The Flower and the Flame in Q3.

Breaking Down Patch 1.0.4

Let’s be honest: Bloodlines 2 didn’t launch in a state worthy of its name. The original Troika classic became a cult legend thanks to years of community fixes; The Chinese Room would love to earn that same redemption arc without handing the reins to modders. Patch 1.0.4 is the first step that feels aimed at everyday players. “Save on exit” stops the progress loss many of us hit after long sessions. It also squashes several immersion-killers, like enemies phasing into geometry in the underground – a bug that could soft-lock combat encounters.

It’s not flashy, but this is the stuff that actually improves play sessions tonight. That said, it doesn’t solve the core feel issues: inconsistent hit feedback, twitchy enemy behavior, and performance dips during busier scenes. Those need heavier lifts than a hotfix.

1.0.5: The Essentials We Should’ve Had at Launch

The real test lands with patch 1.0.5. An FOV slider and motion blur toggle are table stakes on PC in 2025 – accessibility and comfort features that should never be missing. The ability to manually save at any time is even bigger. In a systems-driven RPG where you experiment with social checks, stealth routes, and combat approaches, manual saves let you play boldly without fearing a half-hour do-over.

Do I wish all three had shipped on day one? Absolutely. But cadence matters. If The Chinese Room hits that “before the end of the year” window, it signals a studio prioritizing quality-of-life over fluff, and that’s the right call after a rocky launch.

Roadmap Through 2026: Smart Support or Just Dressing?

After 1.0.5, the studio’s roadmap leans into seasonal beats. A Christmas drop brings new cosmetics for Phyre and a custom difficulty mode, plus the option to skip Fabien’s missions — but only after you finish the game once. I get the logic: Fabien ties into the overarching narrative, and the team wants first-time players to see it. As a player? I appreciate the choice, but gating it behind credits will annoy folks who bounced off that questline during their first run.

Looking ahead to 2026, there’s a Valentine’s update in Q1. I’m hoping that’s where the game finally addresses its barely-there romance direction. The bones are here for meaningful bonds in The World of Darkness — temptation, betrayal, leverage — but right now those threads feel undercooked. If Valentine’s focuses on deeper character routes and reactive dialogue, that’s the kind of content update that could change hearts and minds.

Then we get into the meaty stuff: Loose Cannon, a story DLC centered on fiery Sheriff Benny Muldoon (Q2), and Ysabella’s The Flower and the Flame (Q3). Benny suggests action-forward drama; Ysabella hints at intrigue and personal stakes. If Bloodlines 2 is going to win players back, narrative DLC needs sharper quest design and better combat readability — not just more of the same.

Will This Redeem Bloodlines 2?

It could. We’ve watched games pull off glow-ups with steady updates — Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky are the textbook examples. The difference here is that Bloodlines isn’t a pure tech problem; it’s also about feel. QoL toggles will make sessions smoother, but the path to cult-classic status runs through better combat timing, enemy variety, and encounter design. If those show up in future patches alongside the DLC, the redemption arc gets real.

What Gamers Should Watch For

• How manual saves interact with quest logic in 1.0.5 — any save corruption or “save jail” issues?
• FOV slider limits and motion blur intensity — can you disable blur entirely and push FOV wide without distortion?
• Performance stability post-1.0.5 — frame-time consistency during combat and in busy hubs.
• Custom difficulty knobs — are stealth visibility, enemy aggression, and resource scarcity actually tunable?
• Romance depth in the Valentine’s update — new routes, reactive scenes, or just flavor text?
• DLC quality bar — tighter level design and more reactive choices, not just new locations and cosmetics.

TL;DR

Patch 1.0.4 finally fixes the progress-loss headache and cleans up some ugly bugs. Patch 1.0.5 is the big one: FOV slider, motion blur toggle, and manual saves — day-one features arriving a bit late, but welcome. The roadmap through 2026 looks packed, with a holiday drop, a Valentine’s update, and two story DLCs. I’m encouraged by the pace, but the real comeback depends on deeper combat and encounter improvements. Promising start; now deliver the hard stuff.