The Dead Cells Team Is Bringing Us a Brand New Castlevania

AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·

The Dead Cells Team Is Bringing Us a Brand New Castlevania

Konami has announced Castlevania: Belmont's Curse during the February 2026 State of Play, a new 2D side-scroller developed by Dead Cells creators Evil Empire and Motion Twin for a 2026 release.

During the February 2026 State of Play, Konami dropped a major surprise by announcing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, a brand new 2D side-scroller developed in partnership with Evil Empire and Motion Twin. Set for a 2026 release, the game follows a successor to Trevor Belmont navigating a monster-ridden Paris. Series producer Tsutomu Taniguchi revealed that this project kicks off the franchise's upcoming 40th anniversary celebrations, promising a blend of classic franchise staples and modern design philosophies.

For players who spent hundreds of hours mastering Dead Cells, this collaboration feels completely earned. Evil Empire and Motion Twin previously delivered an incredible Castlevania crossover expansion for their own breakout hit, proving they deeply understand the mechanics that made the classic series a pillar of gaming history. Early details suggest they are bringing that exact mastery of movement to Belmont's Curse, showcasing whip mechanics that double as trapeze-style mobility tools for fluid platforming and aerial combat.

As digital economies and modern gaming ecosystems continue to value cross-platform accessibility and community-driven revivals, seeing Konami hand the keys to studios that built their reputation on tight, responsive action is a massive win. While marketing hype often promises the moon, the pedigree of the developers involved gives us genuine reason to believe this will hit all the right notes for both longtime fans and newcomers picking up a controller for the first time. You can read the original reporting over at Polygon.

Tags: Castlevania, Dead Cells, Evil Empire, Motion Twin, State of Play

Original article: Polygon