Konami has officially reignited one of gaming’s most iconic franchises with the announcement of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, a new 2D action‑exploration entry launching in 2026 for PlayStation 5. The reveal took place during Sony’s February 2026 State of Play, marking the first major Castlevania game since Lords of Shadow 2 in 2014.
A Return to Classic Castlevania Roots
The new title follows a successor to Trevor Belmont and is set in 1499 Paris, a city overrun by monstrous creatures emerging from the shadows. Armed with the legendary Vampire Killer whip, players will navigate burning streets, gothic cathedrals, and a looming castle in a narrative that blends historical atmosphere with supernatural dread.
Konami is developing the game in collaboration with Evil Empire and Motion Twin, the studios behind Dead Cells and its acclaimed Return to Castlevania DLC. Their involvement signals a deliberate fusion of classic Castlevania identity with modern metroidvania design philosophies.
Gameplay Vision and Mechanical Identity
Konami describes Belmont’s Curse as a 2D exploration‑action game with a heavy emphasis on whip‑based traversal and combat. The whip is more central than ever, enabling players to swing, vault, and creatively maneuver through environments while engaging in fast‑paced encounters.
The game’s structure appears to embrace the nonlinear exploration that defined the metroidvania genre, while also leaning into the series’ gothic tone and punishing combat heritage.
Konami’s Expectations and Strategic Positioning
Konami has made it clear that Belmont’s Curse is not just a standalone revival—it’s the beginning of a larger Castlevania resurgence. As part of the franchise’s 40th anniversary messaging, the Castlevania production team stated that this game represents “the beginning of numerous new products around Castlevania,” signaling a long‑term roadmap for the brand.
This aligns with Konami’s broader strategy in recent years:
- Reviving legacy franchises with modernized gameplay
- Partnering with proven indie‑adjacent studios to re‑energize classic IP
- Rebuilding Castlevania as a multimedia ecosystem, supported by the success of Netflix’s animated adaptations
Given the pedigree of the collaborating studios and the franchise’s enduring popularity, Konami is positioning Belmont’s Curse as a flagship return—a title meant to reestablish Castlevania as a major player in the action‑exploration genre.
Industry Impact and Fan Reception
The announcement has already sparked significant excitement. Fans have long requested a new mainline Castlevania entry, and the combination of classic 2D design with modern metroidvania expertise appears to be exactly what the community hoped for.
With the game launching in 2026 and Konami openly signaling a broader Castlevania revival, Belmont’s Curse may serve as the foundation for a new era of gothic action games under the Konami banner.
