Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Release Date, Price, Editions, PC Specs and Everything We Know

Updated October 3, 2026. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse launches on October 15, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam and Xbox PC). It is a new 2D action-exploration game published by Konami and developed by Evil Empire, with Dead Cells studio Motion Twin advising. You play as Rose Belmont, Trevor Belmont's daughter, in Paris in 1499, and a free demo is already out with save transfer to the full game.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse release date and platforms

Konami lists the release date as October 15, 2026 on its official product page. The game was first revealed at Sony's State of Play in February 2026. The release date and pre-orders followed with a trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase in June.

At first the Nintendo Switch version had no date. Konami has since confirmed that Switch launches on the same day as the other platforms. The Steam page currently shows October 14, which is most likely a time-zone unlock rather than an earlier launch. Konami has not published an exact unlock schedule, so check your platform's store page closer to launch.

• PlayStation 5 – October 15, 2026
• Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC – October 15, 2026
• PC (Steam) – October 15, 2026 (store page shows October 14)
• Nintendo Switch – October 15, 2026

There is no dedicated Switch 2 version. According to Nintendo Everything's report on Konami's Switch announcement, the Switch release runs on Switch 2 through backward compatibility at 60 fps. Konami's product page lists 60 fps on other platforms and 30 fps on Switch. If you are lining up your October purchases, our October 2026 release calendar shows what else lands that month.

Price, editions and pre-order bonus

Belmont's Curse is a budget-priced release by 2026 standards. The Steam store lists the Standard Edition at $29.99 and the Midnight Edition at $39.99. When pre-orders opened in June, GameSpot reported that the physical Standard Edition costs $40.

Konami says the Digital Sound & Art Gallery includes more than 100 pieces of artwork and an in-app music player. Konami's press release, as reprinted by outlets, says the soundtrack portion holds 71 tracks. The two costumes are cosmetic. The Family's Grace relic is an in-game item, but Konami has not explained what it does, so it is not clear whether it gives an early-game advantage.

Availability of the physical Midnight Edition differs by source. Konami's US product page lists the Midnight Edition as "Physical & Digital", but GameSpot's June guide said it was digital-only in North America. Check your retailer before you assume you can get a boxed copy. Our advice is to play the demo first. At $30 there is little reason to pre-order a game you can try for free today.

Who is making it: Evil Empire, Motion Twin and Konami

The lead developer is Evil Empire, the French studio that handled years of post-launch Dead Cells updates. That work included the Return to Castlevania DLC, so Evil Empire has made Castlevania content before. Motion Twin, Dead Cells' original creator, is credited as an advisory studio. Konami publishes the game and is also credited as a co-developer on Steam. Wikipedia lists Tsutomu Taniguchi as producer.

Konami's release-date announcement credits Japanese illustrator Katsuya Terada with artwork. Because of the Dead Cells connection, many fans assumed this would be a roguelite. Konami and the developers have said clearly that it is not one. GameSpot notes that the developers describe it as following the classic Castlevania formula of 2D action-exploration rather than Dead Cells-style runs.

Story setup: Paris in flames, Dracula's castle rising

The game is set in Paris in 1499. Monsters have overrun the city, the streets are burning, and Dracula's castle appears in the middle of the French capital. Konami's official tagline calls it a journey "across Paris in 1499" with "the streets engulfed in flames and monstrous creatures on the loose."

Rose takes up the Belmont family's holy whip, the Vampire Killer, and goes into the city and the castle to find where the demonic creatures are coming from. Shown or confirmed characters include:

• Dracula – the main antagonist
• Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades – the heroes of Castlevania III, now a generation older
• Joan of Arc – a corrupted historical figure whom you fight as a boss
• Isaac, Carmilla, Death, Medusa and a new foe called The Fallen

The English voice cast is also a selling point. GameSpot confirmed Graham McTavish as Dracula, the role he played in Netflix's Castlevania series. Alejandra Reynoso returns as Sypha, and Abby Trott voices Rose. The cast also includes JB Blanc (Trevor), Liam O'Brien (Isaac), Aaron LaPlante (Death), Erica Lindbeck (Joan of Arc), Ray Chase (The Fallen), Melique Berger (Medusa) and Dawn M. Bennett (Carmilla). Konami lists English and Japanese audio.

Which Belmont do you play?

You play as Rose Belmont, a new character. Konami describes her as Trevor Belmont's daughter. Wikipedia and the voice-cast reveal also list Sypha Belnades as her mother. Konami has not confirmed any other playable characters. The Trevor and Sypha items in the Midnight Edition are costumes for Rose, not separate characters.

That makes her the first new Belmont lead in a mainline Castlevania for a long time. In the original timeline, she fills the gap between Trevor (1476) and Christopher Belmont's era in the late 1500s.

Gameplay: 2D action-exploration, not a roguelite

Some coverage calls it 2.5D, but Konami officially calls Belmont's Curse a "2D Action-Exploration" game. It is a side-scrolling Metroidvania with a non-linear map, boss fights and new abilities that open up earlier areas. Konami says it is not a roguelike or roguelite.

Whip, weapons and Arcana

The Vampire Killer whip is used for both combat and traversal. The Steam page lists seven weapon categories plus Relics for different builds. In GameSpot's July hands-on, they used a starting sword, a throwable cross, a heavy broadsword, gloves with an uppercut whip attack, a spear that can be swung or thrown, and a sword-and-shield set.

The standout system is Arcana. When you defeat a boss, it becomes a tarot-style Arcana card that grants a new ability. In the preview build, the starting spell was a fireball. Beating The Fallen unlocked a cross throw, Joan of Arc gave a fire column, and Medusa gave a petrifying gaze. Bosses also unlocked traversal tools, including an "Arcana Whip" grapple and a halo that lets you pass through certain walls and floors.

Progression and saving

• Acts of Mercy – goals tied to each spell that unlock Blessings, which upgrade range, damage or effects
• Healing – three restorable potions, with extra health from items you find
• Saving – magic mirror save points, which respawn enemies

These details come from a pre-release preview build, so some numbers and names could change before launch. If you are coming from modern Metroidvanias like Hollow Knight: Silksong, expect a shorter and more traditional Castlevania structure. That is a guess based on the price and file size, though. Konami has not given an official length.

PC system requirements and file size

The official Steam requirements are modest. Note that Windows 11 is listed for both tiers.

Konami gives storage as 8 GB for the Standard Edition and 10 GB for the Midnight Edition. On Switch it is 4 GB and 6 GB. The 16 GB RAM minimum is high for a 2D game, so if your PC only has 8 GB, try the demo before you buy. Konami and Steam have not listed AMD equivalents or a Steam Deck rating.

Where Belmont's Curse fits in the Castlevania timeline

Belmont's Curse is part of the original Castlevania timeline, not Lords of Shadow. Its setting of 1499 places it:

1. 1476 – Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, Grant and Alucard defeat Dracula.
2. 1479 – Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. Hector and Isaac's story, three years later. That explains why Isaac appears again.
3. 1499 – Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. 23 years after Castlevania III. Rose Belmont takes up the Vampire Killer.
4. 1576 – Castlevania: The Adventure. Christopher Belmont's fight against Dracula.

Rose is placed between Trevor and Christopher, so the story can bring back Castlevania III's cast without changing what came later. Konami presents the game as part of the series' 40th anniversary.

Free demo: what's in it and does progress carry over?

The demo came out on October 1, 2026 on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch. It covers the opening stages of the game. Your demo save transfers to the full version if you play on the same platform with the same account. Keep the demo save data until launch.

The demo is the best way to judge the game feel and your PC's performance before October 15. For more free games to play while you wait, see this week's Epic Games Store freebies. If you are on Switch 2, our best Switch 2 games of 2026 list covers what else is worth installing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources checked on October 3, 2026 against Konami's official product page and announcements, the Steam store listing, GameSpot's previews and buying guide, and Nintendo Everything's Switch report.