Ever since Bloober Team revealed it was working on Cronos: The New Dawn, a game that’s giving me massive Dead Space vibes, I’ve been following the development as much as possible. And while it has been pretty dry, recently Bloober Team released a new gameplay video that breaks down the combat of Cronos: The New Dawn, and what was shown and discussed has me even more invested in the game.
Check out the trailer below.
It’s very transparent that Bloober Team isn’t just messing around with the combat in Cronos: The New Dawn and is building something tactical, reactive, and always changing. In this latest dev diary, Game Director Jacek Zieba and Lead Combat Designer Shamil Yanbukhtin broke down what makes the game’s fights feel different. And if you’re expecting a basic shoot, reload, survive loop, you’re in for a surprise.
At the core of the combat are the enemies you’ll face that don’t simply die and disappear. When one goes down, it turns into fuel for the others, allowing them to merge with other creatures and turn into something else. Take too long, and that harmless runner you ignored becomes a walking tank with ranged attacks. Every choice you make matters, because even a routine fight can get out of hand fast.
No two fights are the same. Everything is handcrafted, not some AI-generated fluff. Sometimes you’ll get the upper hand with environmental tools like gas canisters or ambush spots. Other times, you’re stuck in a tight hallway with a bruiser and no cover. The game gives you options, but it doesn’t hand out easy wins. Whether you go loud, sneak around, or bait enemies into traps, Kronos lets you fight your way.
Resource management is the name of the game. Do you spend your limited materials on ammo or health packs? Do you prep for a big encounter or gamble that you won’t need anything? There’s no best answer. Just what works for how you play. It’s all about decisions before, during, and after combat.
You’ll be able to tweak your build with upgrades to weapons, gear, and your suit. Go full tank, play it stealthy, or sit in the middle. The catch? Once enemies start merging mid-fight, you may have to ditch your whole plan on the spot. That setup you thought was perfect? Yeah, not anymore.
Enemy variety keeps things from getting stale. Runners rush you, ranged types chip away from a distance, and bruisers exist to drain your supplies. Let them merge, and you’re dealing with hybrids that totally screw with your flow. Some hide. Some lay traps. All of them force you to stay sharp.
And yeah, they may have teased boss fights. They didn’t spill details, but the smirks said enough. Something big is definitely lurking.
Cronos: The New Dawn is shaping up to be a thinking person’s survival horror. One where raw firepower won’t save you. You’ve got to read the room, plan your moves, and adapt fast. Every encounter matters. Every resource counts. And every bad decision could be your last. Personally, it sounds like my type of game.
Cronos: The New Dawn releases this Fall 2025 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
