The new 2D Castlevania just got an October release date

Konami has confirmed an October 15, 2026, release date for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC. A new trailer dropped today to show off more gameplay and open up pre-orders.

Konami announced the game a few months ago. The franchise has survived mostly on nostalgia for the past decade. It is a traditional side-scrolling action game with Metroidvania elements, built around a completely new protagonist.

The plot takes place in 1499. Paris is under attack by monsters. Trevor Belmont and his daughter Rose head into the burning city to hunt down the beasts. Players control Rose, who wields the Vampire Killer whip. The movement system places a heavy emphasis on that whip. Rose can use it to swing around the environments like a trapeze artist. This suggests a faster, more fluid style of platforming compared to the rigid jumps of the older games. Players can also use the whip to pounce on enemies during combat.

Bosses in tarot cards

The combat system relies heavily on the Arcana system. When Rose defeats bosses like Death, Medusa, Carmilla, or Joan of Arc, their souls are sealed into tarot cards. Players can then use those cards to cast spells or perform special actions. It sounds a lot like the Tactical Soul system from Aria of Sorrow, just mapped to a deck of cards instead of floating orbs. Joan of Arc is an interesting choice for a Castlevania boss. I guess burning at the stake really changes a person.

Beyond the cards, the game includes seven categories of weapons and equippable relics to customize combat. Players can mix and match these items to build out different playstyles.

Pre-order Bonus: Alucard Costume

The game is listed on Steam, the Microsoft Store, and the PlayStation Store. There is also an Australian PlayStation listing at $39.95 AUD. Players who pre-order the game will receive the Alucard Style Costume as a bonus item.

Nintendo Switch owners will have to wait a bit longer. The Switch version is scheduled for 2027. This is a common pattern for modern 2D games, as developers often need extra time to optimize for the older handheld hardware.

It is good to see a proper new entry in the series. Konami is leaning heavily into the gothic aesthetics that made the early games work. We will see how Rose handles the family business this October. Konami has posted more details about the combat mechanics on its official website.

Source: www.xbox.com