Unveiling Combat in Cronos: The New Dawn – New Dev Diary

In the gameplay reveal trailer for Cronos: The New Dawn, a voice warned the Traveler to "Stay focused, stay cautious." That wasn’t just atmospheric flavor—it was a warning.

Today, we’re releasing a short developer diary that offers an in-depth look at how combat works in Cronos: The New Dawn, featuring Game Director Jacek Zięba and Lead Combat Designer Shamil Yanbukhtin.

Every encounter is shaped by a brutal and evolving threat: The Merge. Enemies known as Orphans can absorb nearby corpses to transform mid-battle into deadlier forms, gaining new abilities and dramatically shifting the flow of combat in real time. This mechanic raises the stakes with every kill, making tactical decision-making and spatial awareness absolutely critical.

Highlights from the dev diary include:

  • Escalating Threats – Learn how enemy Merging alters combat strategy and enemy behavior.

  • Arena Control – Master the flow of battle by preventing Merges through smart positioning and weapon choice.

  • Enemy Roles – Discover the different types of Doppelgangers and how to counter each effectively.

Read the full PlayStation Blog Post

Watch the full dev diary:

 Press assets available here 

Cronos: The New Dawn is set for release in Fall 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®5, and PC via Steam and Epic. Wishlist now on Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store, and PlayStation to receive updates on this one-of-a-kind survival horror experience. Stay tuned for more horrors to follow soon. 

Bloober Team