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The Story: Paris, 1499
In 1499, a castle materializes in the heart of Paris, unleashing demonic creatures onto the streets. The local bishop sends a letter to Trevor Belmont begging for help. Trevor, along with a young heir of the Belmont lineage, sets out to eradicate the monsters and discover how they crossed into the mortal world.
The protagonist — a female Belmont with blonde braided hair and a light blue warrior outfit — is believed to be a reimagined version of Sonia Belmont from Castlevania Legends. She wields the legendary Vampire Killer whip, the holy weapon of the Belmont family. Notably, the events are set exactly 500 years before Dracula's permanent death in the Demon Castle War of 1999.
40 Years of Castlevania
2026 marks 40 years since the original Castlevania (1986). Konami stated that Belmont's Curse is "the beginning of numerous new products around Castlevania" — signaling a full-scale revival of the franchise. It's the first main series release since Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.
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Gameplay: Between Symphony of the Night & Dead Cells
Belmont's Curse follows the Metroidvania formula established by Symphony of the Night: a non-linear map, save rooms, auto-mapping, fast travel points, and progressive area unlocking through upgrades. The game world encompasses both the castle and the city of Paris.
Vampire Killer Whip
The legendary whip functions as both a weapon AND a grappling hook — you can swing across chasms in Super Castlevania IV style. Movement is free-flowing and fluid.
Multiple Weapons
Beyond the whip, you'll have access to a wide arsenal of secondary weapons and abilities. Strategically switching between them is key in tough fights.
Environmental Hazards
Biomes are packed with traps, secrets, and puzzles. It's not just about brawn — brains are needed too!
RPG Elements
Defeating enemies earns experience, and you'll find upgrades and key items that progressively unlock new areas.
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The Team: Evil Empire & Motion Twin
Development is in the hands of Evil Empire, a Bordeaux-based French studio that developed The Rogue Prince of Persia. Motion Twin, creator of the multi-award-winning Dead Cells, participates in an advisory role — a partnership that began with the excellent Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC (2023). Konami oversees as publisher, with Tsutomu Taniguchi as producer.
The choice of these teams is no accident: the developers know 2D action platforming inside and out, and their Dead Cells experience — one of the best roguelike/Metroidvania games ever — promises rapid, satisfying combat combined with high-quality exploration.
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Platforms & Release
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse was announced for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam). The release is expected sometime in 2026, with no official date yet. The announcement was made at the PlayStation State of Play on February 12, 2026 — just days before this article's publication.
The inclusion of Nintendo Switch (not just Switch 2) means Konami is targeting a wide audience. For physical media enthusiasts, Blu-ray and game card editions are expected. The packaging artwork released so far shows stunning design that honors the series' gothic aesthetic.
Why We're Excited
There are many reasons for optimism:
- Dead Cells expertise. Evil Empire/Motion Twin know how to craft satisfying 2D combat — fast, responsive, and deep.
- Metroidvania roots. The return to the Symphony of the Night formula — rather than the Lords of Shadow 3D approach — is exactly what the community demanded.
- Rich lore. 1499, Paris, the connection to Trevor — the story has a strong foundation within the Castlevania timeline.
- Female protagonist. The potential revival of Sonia Belmont brings fresh energy to the series while honoring a long-overlooked character.
- Konami's commitment. The statement that this is “the beginning” means Konami is seriously reinvesting in Castlevania.
What We Know & Don't Know
We know: Metroidvania gameplay, whip mechanics, RPG elements, setting, dev team, platforms. We don't know: exact release date, pricing, whether co-op elements will exist, map size, or the full progression system. Expect more reveals in the coming months.