Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Hits Switch, PS5, Xbox, PC on October 15

Q: Is Belmont's Curse a genuine 40th-anniversary celebration or Konami's latest attempt to outsource its cherished legacy?

Belmont’s Curse is both a real 40th-anniversary celebration and a clear example of Konami relying on outside talent to revive Castlevania. The anniversary case is strong. The game is the first brand-new Castlevania since 2014, arrives on October 15, 2026 just after the series’ 40th anniversary, and is built around core franchise markers: the Belmont bloodline, the Vampire Killer whip, Dracula-era lore, hidden chambers, punishing enemies, and a Metroidvania structure. Setting it in 1499 Paris with Rose Belmont, 23 years after Castlevania III, shows an effort to expand canon rather than simply repackage nostalgia. At the same time, this is not a fully in-house Konami production. Evil Empire, the studio best known for its work on Dead Cells, is leading development, with Motion Twin advising. Konami is publishing and overseeing the project, but the creative heavy lifting is being shared externally. That fits a broader pattern in which Konami has leaned on partnerships while re-entering premium console development. Whether that is a problem depends on the result. Outsourcing does not automatically mean neglect; in this case, Evil Empire has a strong track record in fast, polished 2D action, which may be exactly what Castlevania needs. The more important test is whether Belmont’s Curse feels like a confident new Castlevania rather than a brand exercise. So far, the evidence suggests a credible anniversary game made through outsourcing, not an empty celebration.

3 articles · Updated · Gematsu · Jul 15

October 15 is now confirmed as the day-and-date launch for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse on Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store.
Konami, Evil Empire, and Motion Twin said the announcement settles earlier uncertainty around the Switch version, which had previously carried only a 2026 window while other platforms already had the October 15 date.
1499 Paris sets the stage: Trevor Belmont and his daughter Rose fight monsters with the Vampire Killer whip, while Rose is drawn into a conspiracy beneath a looming castle.
Bosses including Death, Medusa, Carmilla, and Joan of Arc feed an Arcana card system, alongside seven weapon categories and relics that let players tailor combat and exploration.