Konami will release a free demo for its new title, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, on October 1.
The demo will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam), supporting Korean text. Players can play through the opening chapter of the game, and save data created in the demo can be transferred to the full version. However, to transfer save data, players must play both the demo and the full version on the same platform and account.
Performance specifications and required storage space for each platform were also revealed. The game runs at 60 fps on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, while the Nintendo Switch version operates at 30 fps. The minimum required storage space to install the demo is 6 GB on PS5, 5 GB on Xbox Series X|S, 4 GB on PC, and 3 GB on Nintendo Switch.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is the first proper 2D title in 18 years for the Castlevania series, which marks its 40th anniversary this year. It is being developed by Konami alongside Evil Empire, which handled updates and DLC development for Dead Cells, while original Dead Cells developer Motion Twin is participating as an advisory studio. In a previous interview with Inven, the development team stated that they focused on respecting the existing lore and setting while offering a modern reinterpretation.
The game is set in Paris, France in 1499, 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont who defeated Dracula, stars as the protagonist and investigates the cause of the disaster in a Paris plunged into chaos by suddenly appearing monsters. Unlike previous entries where Dracula's Castle was the main setting, this game depicts exploring various parts of Paris before making one's way to the castle.
Combat and exploration actively make use of the series' iconic holy whip, the Vampire Killer. The whip is used not only to attack enemies but also to traverse terrain, and players can customize their combat style by combining weapons from seven categories with magical tools featuring various effects. Traditional series bosses such as Death, Medusa, and Carmilla appear alongside new figures including Joan of Arc.
Another key feature is the Arcana System, which is tied to boss battles. Rose seals defeated bosses into Tarot cards, allowing players to borrow their power to use new spells or special actions. This implements the growth structure of an exploration-focused 2D action game, expanding traversable areas and altering combat styles.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is scheduled to release on October 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and PC (Steam). The Nintendo Switch version is scheduled for release in 2026, with a specific release date to be announced at a later time.
