Bloober Staff lately launched Layers of Concern: The Closing Masterpiece Version on Nintendo Change 2 following the developer’s day and date launch for Cronos: The New Daybreak. Final week, I had an opportunity to talk with Bloober Staff’s CEO Piotr Babieno in regards to the Change 2 {hardware}, the Nintendo-exclusive upcoming Mission M, horror video games, desirous to work on an Everlasting Darkness remake, a horror sport with Samus, future ports, espresso, and far more.
Nintendo Insider: For these unaware, inform us a bit bit about your self and the way you bought your begin within the trade.
Piotr Babieno: Whats up, my title is Piotr Babieno. I’m the founder and CEO of Bloober Staff S.A. After graduating, I turned a journalist and wrote extensively about tradition in a broad sense, together with video video games. A number of years later, I created Poland’s first web site devoted completely to Nintendo, in addition to a web-based retailer promoting Nintendo consoles and video games.
I additionally organized the primary Nintendo Fan Conventions in Poland. As a aspect observe, throughout one among these occasions we had the pleasure of showcasing what was possible one of many very first playable demos of Resident Evil 4 on the earth.
Along with a number of colleagues, I made a decision to determine a sport improvement studio that was meant to create horror video games – sure, horror video games – particularly for Nintendo platforms. Our first mission, which we aimed to develop for the Nintendo Wii, was Disappointment. We had a implausible pre-production section, however after a number of years it turned clear that we merely didn’t but know make video games.
After we have been on the snapping point, an funding fund appeared, occupied with creating a brand new entity with us. In follow, this meant a change of title, but additionally a transparent situation: we needed to concentrate on smaller tasks. Consequently, my dream of making a horror sport for Nintendo platforms needed to wait a bit longer.
Nintendo Insider: I wish to concentrate on Bloober’s Nintendo platform releases first. How was it for the corporate releasing a number of horror video games on Nintendo Change?
Piotr Babieno: As you possibly can see, Nintendo DNA runs in my blood, so it was solely pure that I used to be at all times searching for alternatives to deliver our video games to Massive N platforms. In fact, as a Nintendo fan, I’m absolutely conscious that Change homeowners are much less more likely to play multiplatform titles, so we by no means had overly formidable gross sales expectations.
Nevertheless, each time we create a model for Nintendo platforms, we make a acutely aware effort to counterpoint it and ship the very best doable stage of immersion by leveraging the distinctive options of these platforms. Layers of Concern: The Closing Masterpiece Version is a superb instance of this strategy.
Nintendo Insider: Did the response to these titles from Change homeowners drive you to deliver Cronos to Change 2 day one?
Piotr Babieno: To be trustworthy, the second I discovered about NS2, I instantly thought that I’d love Cronos to launch on that console concurrently. On the time, this purpose appeared virtually unattainable to attain. Nevertheless, due to my persistence, the unimaginable help of our fantastic pals at Nintendo, and the superhuman effort of our improvement groups (our crew and Pixel Ants Video games), we managed to make it occur.
I’m extraordinarily pleased with this achievement.
Nintendo Insider: Talking of Cronos, are you able to go into how quickly into improvement you intend on releasing for Change 2?
Piotr Babieno: To be trustworthy, as quickly as I heard that NS2 was coming…
Nintendo Insider: When taking a look at your again catalogue, I’m glad to see each Layers of Concern video games bundled with new content material and enhancements into Layers of Concern: The Closing Masterpiece Version. Would this be the very best model of each video games and a greater expertise than each different platform?
Piotr Babieno: That’s precisely the plan! We labored carefully along with our pals at Pixel Ant Video games to make sure this model reaches the very best doable high quality. And because of the usage of NS2’s distinctive options, Layers of Concern will obtain a wholly new stage of immersion.
Nintendo Insider: Are there plans to do a bodily (non sport key card) model of Layers of Concern: The Closing Masterpiece Version?
Piotr Babieno: There are ongoing discussions. I’d very very similar to this to occur. For now, nonetheless, our focus is on the digital launch, in order that Nintendo gamers can expertise one of many absolute best horror video games on Nintendo Change 2!
Nintendo Insider: Whereas the title hasn’t been introduced, are you able to go into what gamers ought to count on from Mission M, the Nintendo platform unique horror title from Bloober?
Piotr Babieno: You don’t have any concept how laborious it’s for me to not reveal what Mission M actually is—however for now, it’s nonetheless too early to speak about it. We’re assured that we’ll have the ability to share the primary particulars very quickly.
What I can say is that this: followers of Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Limbo, and Everlasting Darkness will instantly really feel at dwelling. That stated, Mission M introduces a daring twist—one which no horror sport has ever explored earlier than. It is a imaginative and prescient that would solely exist on Nintendo {hardware}.
Nintendo Insider: How a lot improvement assist do you get from Nintendo for making the most of the Change 2 expertise?
Piotr Babieno: With out the help of the unimaginable folks at Nintendo, this sport would by no means have had an opportunity to exist. Their belief guided and empowered us at each step of the journey.
Nintendo Insider: How difficult was it working with UE5 on Change 2 in Cronos? Is there any likelihood we are going to see extra updates to the discharge to usher in trendy UE5 options which are at present not current on the Change 2 port?
Piotr Babieno: On the time of improvement on Cronos, we confronted a lot of challenges because the Change 2 model of Unreal Engine was being absolutely optimized for the {hardware}. Our crew overcame them and constantly works on enhancements to our video games on NS2. At any time when new alternatives come up, we will definitely be desperate to take full benefit of them.
Nintendo Insider: your different titles with say Konami, I believe Silent Hill 2 could be nice to have on Change 2. Are there plans to deliver it over?
Piotr Babieno: It is a matter that may solely be addressed by the sport’s writer – Konami.
Nintendo Insider: Are there any plans to deliver The Medium to Change 2?
Piotr Babieno: Right now, we have now no such plans. Nevertheless, if Layers of Concern: The Closing Masterpiece Version reaches a large viewers, we will definitely take into account that chance.
Nintendo Insider: What are your ideas on the horror sport viewers throughout completely different consoles and PC now as we get into 2026?
Piotr Babieno: Horror has many alternative shades. Increasingly conventional sport genres are taking over darker tones, which is a pure reflection of the place we’re as a society in the present day. At any time when one thing unhealthy occurs on the earth—wars, crises, pandemics, and the like—horror as a style tends to develop quickly.
It’s due to this fact no shock that we’re seeing increasingly more video games emerge inside this house. There are not any main variations between platforms on this regard. I imagine that the approaching 12 months might be even stronger for horror than the previous two years, and I hope we’ll have the ability to contribute our personal small half to that development.
Nintendo Insider: What have you ever performed in 2025 that you just loved so much?
Piotr Babieno: It’s a bit embarrassing to confess, however over the previous 12 months I had so little time that I ended up watching playthroughs much more usually than truly taking part in video games myself. That stated, other than our personal titles, I spent essentially the most time with Echoes of Knowledge, Pikmin 4, Mario Kart 8—which we frequently play collectively as a household—and FC26.
Nintendo Insider: For Layers of Concern, the Change 2 unique launch has contact and movement controls. Are there plans to usher in mouse controls in some kind?
Piotr Babieno: We help mouse enter.
Nintendo Insider: Hypothetical state of affairs. Assuming there are not any restrictions or licensing points, what basic horror sport would you prefer to remake and what sequence would you prefer to launch a brand new entry in?
Piotr Babieno: Ha! That’s a implausible query.
If I had the chance, I’d positively take a detailed take a look at Everlasting Darkness, which stays one among my all-time favourite horror video games. Engaged on the Silent Hill sequence was a dream of mine that I used to be lucky sufficient to meet.
That stated, making a horror sport with Samus Aran within the lead function—or a darker, extra unsettling tackle Hyperlink’s adventures—could be completely unimaginable.
Nintendo Insider: Closing query: How do you want your espresso? Go into as a lot element as doable. If you happen to don’t like espresso, what’s your favourite beverage?
Piotr Babieno: Contemplating how a lot is happening round us, espresso is one among my greatest pals. With out it, mornings could be very laborious to get by means of! That stated, I’m positively spending a bit an excessive amount of time with this good friend.
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