Konami Revives Castlevania With New Evil Empire Game

Konami is reviving its iconic Castlevania franchise with a new entry developed by Evil Empire, the studio behind Dead Cells, and Motion Twin. Titled Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, the game is set for release on October 15, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The announcement and hands-on previews were featured at gamescom 2026, where developers discussed the game's design philosophy and its place in the series' 40-year history. The game is set in 1499 Paris, 23 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. Players control Rose Belmont, the daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, as she confronts a new supernatural threat. The development team, including KONAMI producer Tsutomu Taniguchi and Evil Empire's lead designer Sandro Bordier, emphasized that the whip is central to every aspect of the game, from combat and traversal to exploration. Bordier stated the team's goal was to create "the best possible whip in video games." The whip serves as the core mechanic, allowing Rose to grapple across gaps, zip toward enemies, and open up new paths through the environment.