BloodRayne's complete trilogy is getting a physical Switch and PS5 release

Strictly Limited Games has announced a physical release for the BloodRayne Definitive Collection on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The package bundles all three games in the vampire action franchise, and pre-orders open today.

Rayne was one of the early 2000s' most recognizable anti-heroes. Developed by Terminal Reality in 2002, the original BloodRayne followed a dhampir (half-human, half-vampire) working for a secret organization to hunt down supernatural threats. She hacked her way through Nazis and occult forces long before vampires became a massive young adult trend. The first game and its 2004 sequel were absolute products of their time. They mixed edgy gothic horror with acrobatic combat and an excessive amount of digital blood.

The franchise actually started its life as a planned sequel to Terminal Reality's 1999 survival horror game Nocturne. When licensing issues prevented that, the studio pivoted to an original IP. The result was a faster, more aggressive action game built around Rayne's signature arm blades and her need to feed on enemies to restore health. The series gained enough traction to spawn comic books and three notoriously terrible live-action films directed by Uwe Boll.

Terminal cuts and fresh bites

The new physical collection includes BloodRayne: Terminal Cut, BloodRayne 2: Terminal Cut, and the 2D side-scrolling spin-off BloodRayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites.

Ziggurat Interactive currently owns the IP and previously commissioned Terminal Reality to update the first two games for modern PCs. Those Terminal Cut versions added higher resolution support, improved anti-aliasing, upscaled cinematics, and restored textures. They also added native support for modern controllers, which was a massive relief for anyone who previously tried to map the original 2002 PC controls to a gamepad. This is the first time all three games are available together on a single Switch cartridge or PS5 disc. The collection also includes newly implemented patches for performance and stability across all three titles.

Betrayal is an interesting inclusion. Originally developed by WayForward in 2011, it abandoned the 3D action of the mainline games for a strict 2D hack-and-slash approach. The Fresh Bites version included here has redrawn high-resolution art and newly recorded voice acting from the original cast. It is a much shorter experience than the 3D games, but the combat is surprisingly precise. WayForward used it as an opportunity to test out some of the fluid 2D animation techniques they would later apply to other projects. The game is notoriously difficult, relying heavily on tight platforming and careful timing.

The collector tax

Strictly Limited is offering two main versions through its official store. The standard Limited Edition costs €39.99 (about $43) and just includes the game.

The Deluxe Edition bumps the price to €59.99. It adds an 80-page softcover artbook featuring concept art and character designs, a soundtrack CD, a double-sided poster showcasing original artwork, and die-cut character stickers. All of this comes packed in a custom collector's box.

For people who already own the games digitally but want the physical items, the publisher is selling a "No Game" Deluxe Edition for €29.99. Selling an empty collector's box is an unusual move, but it solves the problem of double-dipping for fans who already bought the digital Terminal Cut releases years ago.

Pre-orders close on May 3, with the official release scheduled for July 29.