Bloober Team’s upcoming survival horror game Cronos: The New Dawn has now received its ESRB rating ahead of its September 5 release. According to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the game is rated M for Mature 17+ due to its graphic depictions of blood and gore, intense violence, and strong language. This classification sheds light on the game’s dark thematic elements and visual tone, which are consistent with the developer’s reputation for psychological horror experiences.
The ESRB’s rating summary outlines the game’s premise and gameplay mechanics, confirming that players assume the role of an Extractor who navigates both post-apocalyptic futures and distorted pasts while retrieving souls. Gameplay features a variety of combat scenarios involving firearms and melee weapons, with enemies exhibiting graphic damage and dismemberment. Several scenes reportedly feature blood-splatter effects and post-mortem mutilation, while some areas contain graphic environmental details such as severed limbs and bodily viscera. One particularly disturbing moment includes a cutscene in which a character commits suicide off-screen. Additionally, strong language is present, with the word “f**k” used within dialogue.
The rating currently applies to the physical versions of the game, which will be available on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. The Xbox Series X|S and PC versions of Cronos: The New Dawn are expected to be digital-only releases. The game will also be optimized for Xbox hardware, with support for Xbox Play Anywhere and xCloud touch controls.
Previously, Cronos: The New Dawn was the subject of a leak via the Xbox Store, which revealed a full list of 47 achievements worth 1,000 gamerscore. The achievement list hinted at multiple endings, weapon upgrades, and moral choices that significantly impact the story. Highlights include achievements such as A Flicker of Hope and I Am Free, which suggest divergent paths for a key character named the Pathfinder. Other achievements point to high replay value through hard mode, New Game Plus, and specialized gameplay using in-game items known as Essences.
While Bloober Team hasn’t told us everything about the game’s story yet, they officially announced the September 5 release date during the most recent Nintendo Direct. Early access is supposedly starting on September 3 for some platforms. Now that the ESRB rating is out there, we’ll probably see a lot more marketing as the launch gets closer.
This is set to be one of the studio’s biggest projects since they worked on the Silent Hill 2 remake, and Cronos: The New Dawn keeps up Bloober Team’s tradition of mixing psychological horror with deep storytelling and tough choices for players.
