Highlights
- Konami revealed Castlevania: Belmont's Curse as a new 2D entry at the State of Play.
- The Dead Cells team is developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse for a 2026 release.
- Castlevania: Belmont's Curse follows Trevor Belmont in a 1499 Paris setting.
After more than a decade of dormancy, Konami is resurrecting its legendary vampire-hunting Castlevania franchise. During Sony’s State of Play event on February 12, 2026, the publisher officially unveiled Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, an all-new 2D action-exploration game scheduled to launch later this year.
Konami has partnered with Evil Empire and Motion Twin, the French studios behind the indie juggernaut Dead Cells for this release.
PlayStation
Set exactly 23 years after the events of Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse, the game follows the legendary Trevor Belmont. He arrives in a French capital engulfed in flames, where a mysterious castle looms over the burning streets, and monstrous creatures emerge from the shadows to threaten total destruction.
While the game retains the dark atmosphere fans expect, the developers are using a "unique colorful approach" with modern 2D animation to bring the world to life. The gameplay promises to blend the classic "Metroidvania" structure, featuring a vast, interconnected map full of secret rooms and breakable walls, with the responsive combat controls Evil Empire is known for.
Master the Vampire Killer and New Gameplay Mechanics
According to the PlayStation Blog and gameplay trailers, the iconic "Vampire Killer" whip is set to return as the heart of the experience. However, it has evolved beyond a simple weapon. Konami describes the new whip mechanics as a vital traversal tool, allowing players to "crack your whip to move around freely like a trapeze artist." This adds a new layer of verticality to exploration, letting players swing across gaps and pounce on enemies like a wolf.
While the whip is central, it won't be your only option. Players will have access to a variety of other weapons, including a sword for close-range encounters and magical abilities that require strategic planning. The game will also feature classic enemy archetypes, such as the slow-moving Zombies, which can become dangerous in large numbers. And for the purists: yes, you can still break walls to find hidden health-restoring pot roasts.
With the developers promising to honor the deep lore of the series while pushing the genre forward, Belmont’s Curse is positioned to help Castlevania reclaim its throne in the midst of a modern Metroidvania boom, and you won’t have to wait long to play, as it will launch this year on PS5!
