The Chinese Room's recent development update for *Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2* sheds new light on the vampire hunters, a faction known as the Information Awareness Bureau (IAB). Operating on a shadow budget without official government support, the IAB agents hunt vampires, referred to as "Hollow Ones," under the guise of "training exercises" and "counter-terrorism efforts."
Leading the bureau's efforts in Seattle is Agent Baker, a disciplined pragmatist whose sole mission is the permanent eradication of vampires. Known as "The Hen" among her followers, Baker's authority is unchallenged. She delves deeply into strange occurrences and historical data, piecing together the intricate web of the vampire society.
The hunters are a formidable force, maintaining a well-coordinated presence with both external and internal security measures at their base. Confronting them alone is daunting; they operate in teams, use spotlights for surveillance, and communicate via portable radios. In combat, they wield thermic batons that ignore defensive tactics and deploy phosphorous grenades to flush enemies from cover. Their sniper crossbows, equipped with explosive bolts, can cause catastrophic damage if not quickly extracted.
Despite their prowess, the hunters have vulnerabilities. They are physically weaker than ghouls and vampires, making them susceptible to specific counter-strategies. Players can utilize Fire's ability to intercept and return grenades or bolts mid-flight. Additionally, members of the Ventru clan can possess an enemy, turning them against their own team.
*Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2* is set to launch in the first half of 2025, available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
