Konami has officially returned to its iconic vampire-hunting franchise after more than a decade, handing development duties to French studio Evil Empire for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. Following a recent hands-on press preview set inside the Chapelle Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc in Paris, details have emerged about how the Dead Cells developer is shaping the next chapter of the series.

Quick Facts

  • Release Date: October 15, 2026
  • Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC
  • Developer: Evil Empire
  • Publisher: KONAMI
  • Editions: Standard Edition ($29.99), Midnight Edition ($39.99)

How Evil Empire and Konami Partnered on the Project

The collaboration between Konami and Evil Empire began with the acclaimed Return to Castlevania DLC for Dead Cells. According to Konami producer Tsutomu Taniguchi, continuing the partnership came down to the studio's proven action game expertise and genuine passion for the franchise. What initially started as a tribute proposed by Evil Empire gradually evolved into a full-scale game through ongoing conversations with Konami.

Creative Director Emmanuel Nouaille noted that building a new entry required establishing core pillars agreed upon by both teams before adding new systems. The project had to remain a 2D action-exploration experience, fit within official series canon, and keep the Vampire Killer whip at the center of gameplay.

Setting, Characters, and Mechanics

Set in 1499, Belmont’s Curse moves the action to a dark, gothic interpretation of Paris. The story follows Trevor Belmont—the hero who previously defeated Dracula—alongside his brand-new daughter and co-protagonist, Rose Belmont. Armed with the Vampire Killer whip, the duo investigates monsters pouring from a looming castle into the burning French capital.

Evil Empire expanded the whip's role for both combat and traversal, allowing players to move freely like trapeze artists while tackling fast-paced fights. The game also introduces the Arcana System: once players defeat legendary bosses such as Death, Medusa, and Carmilla, plus new additions like Joan of Arc, those foes are sealed into tarot cards to grant Rose unique spells and special actions.

Combat is further customized through weapons spanning seven distinct categories and defensive Relics discovered via exploration. Familiar landmarks like Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Catacombs appear throughout the stages, blending classic Castlevania aesthetics with revised visuals.

Editions and Pre-Order Bonuses

Two digital editions are available for pre-order ahead of the October release. The standard version costs $29.99, while the Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Midnight Edition is priced at $39.99 and includes the full game, a Digital Sound & Art Gallery, and three in-game items: the Trevor Style Costume, Sypha Style Costume, and the Family's Grace Relic. Both versions include the Alucard Style Costume as a pre-order bonus and support Xbox Play Anywhere.