Konami dropped an announcement trailer for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse during PlayStation’s State of Play presentation. The new side-scrolling action game marks the franchise’s return to its classic format with a modern twist.
The game takes place 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, according to the trailer’s official description. That timeline puts the story in a fresh era of the Belmont family legacy while maintaining direct ties to one of the series’ most iconic entries from the late 1980s.
The PlayStation Blog describes the protagonist as “Trevor’s successor,” suggesting players will control a new generation Belmont following in Trevor’s footsteps. The trailer showcases a female character wielding the signature vampire killer whip, though Konami hasn’t officially named the protagonist yet.
Visually, Belmont’s Curse leans into a 2.5D art style with fluid animation and modern production values. The trailer shows combat with rolling mechanics, dodge moves, attack wind-ups, and flashy particle effects that differ from the rigid platforming of classic Castlevania entries.
The Dead Cells connection
The game’s visual style and movement have drawn immediate comparisons to Dead Cells, and for good reason. Motion Twin and Evil Empire—the teams behind Dead Cells and its expansions—appear to be involved in the project. Both studios have proven their ability to modernize classic action-platformer mechanics while respecting the genre’s roots.
Despite the trailer’s PS5 branding, a Steam store listing for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is already live, confirming PC availability. The game is set to launch in 2026, giving Konami roughly a year to build hype for what could be the franchise’s first major new entry in years.
