Castlevania: Belmont's Curse: what to know before the October 15 launch

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse launches on Thursday, October 15, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and PC. Released for the series' 40th anniversary, this new 2D entry takes the Belmonts to Paris at the end of the 15th century. Here is what you need to know before launch.

Paris, 1499

The story is set 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. Paris is burning and overrun by monsters, and a mystical castle looms over the city. You play Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula. Armed with the sacred whip, the Vampire Killer, she explores the streets of Paris, the catacombs and the corridors of Dracula's castle.

The cast mixes series figures, such as Death, Medusa and Carmilla, with newcomers, including a historical French heroine: Joan of Arc.

How it plays

It is a 2D action-exploration game. The whip does double duty: you fight with it, and you also use it to swing across the map. Defeated bosses are sealed into Rose's tarot cards and become Arcana, which grant spells and special actions. Seven categories of weapons and a set of relics let you shape your fighting style.

Who is making it

The game is developed by Konami and Evil Empire, the studio that handled updates and DLC for Dead Cells. Motion Twin, which created Dead Cells, is involved as well: Konami described its role as advisory in June, then credited it as a co-developer when the demo launched.

The pedigree invites comparison with Evil Empire's The Rogue Prince of Persia, but Xboxygen, which played it, stresses that Belmont's Curse is not a roguelite.

Platforms, editions and demo

The game is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and PC (Steam and the Xbox app). No Switch 2 version has been announced. The Steam page lists October 14 because it uses US time.

There are three editions: standard digital, Midnight digital and Midnight physical. The Midnight Edition adds a digital sound and art gallery (71 tracks), Trevor- and Sypha-style costumes for Rose, and a relic, Family's Grace. Pre-ordering any edition also unlocks an Alucard-style costume. In the EMEA region, some retailers offer a SteelBook with the physical Midnight Edition.

A free demo has been available since October 1. It covers the game's opening levels, and your progress carries over to the full game, as long as you play on the same platform with the same account and keep the demo save.