Nintendo is widely recognized for its approachable, family-oriented gaming experiences. However, Bloober Team, the development studio behind the upcoming game Cronos: The New Dawn, harbors ambitions of rekindling a golden era for horror titles on Nintendo’s next-generation console, the Switch 2. During the GameCube era, Nintendo consoles were a haven for numerous classic horror games, and Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno expresses a strong desire to see a resurgence of such spine-tingling releases for Nintendo hardware.
Babieno conveyed his personal aspiration to The Game Business, stating, “I`m trying to make my personal dreams come true. I am a huge Nintendo fan. I grew up with Nintendo consoles. The most important horrors, like Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 4—were available on Nintendo GameCube. It was a golden time for Nintendo fans.” He further elaborated on their intent: “In some ways, we would like to be the ones to open a new chapter for Nintendo right now. We have some plans. We are not able to share our vision for the future yet. But definitely Nintendo fans could take a look at Bloober Team.”
Babieno also suggested that games like Luigi`s Mansion could offer a glimpse into the type of experiences fans might anticipate from the studio, highlighting its “cozy horror” feel. He sees a “huge possibility to repeat such an idea” in future projects.
Cronos: The New Dawn stands out as one of the few horror games currently announced for the Switch 2. While other titles like Little Nightmares 3 promise a thrilling experience, Bloober Team`s upcoming game aims to deliver a uniquely intense and unsettling journey. Players will navigate through time, encountering monstrous creatures that can fuse to gain grotesque enhancements. Scheduled for release on September 3, Cronos: The New Dawn will also be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Early impressions, such as Mark Delaney`s preview for GameSpot, have commended its innovative combat mechanics, suggesting the team has discovered a “secret weapon” in its gameplay design.