New Castlevania Drops October 15, But Not on Switch

Twelve years without a new Castlevania, and we finally have a date on the calendar. Konami confirmed during the Xbox Games Showcase that Castlevania: Belmont's Curse launches October 15, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. October for a Castlevania game is almost too perfect, and I'm glad Konami didn't push it to some random February window.

But there's a catch. Sharp-eyed viewers noticed the Switch logo was missing from the platform lineup at the end of the trailer. According to Konami's official page for the game, the Nintendo Switch version is listed separately as "coming 2026" with no specific date. Pre-order details for Switch will be announced "at a later time." No mention of a native Switch 2 version either, which feels like a missed opportunity given that the new hardware is already out there.

The game is being developed by Evil Empire, the studio behind Dead Cells, which previously worked on a Castlevania-themed crossover expansion for that game. Belmont's Curse is set 23 years after Castlevania: Dracula's Curse and stars Rose Belmont, a new protagonist armed with a whip sword. The Summer Game Fest trailer showed off 2D Metroidvania gameplay with modern visuals, and the combat looks fast. Rose apparently offers "enhanced freedom and speed" compared to previous Belmont protagonists, which should give the exploration a different feel than the more deliberate pace of classic entries.

One thing for Xbox players: despite debuting at the Xbox Games Showcase, Belmont's Curse won't be on Game Pass at launch. It does support Xbox Play Anywhere, so a single purchase covers both console and PC. The new trailer also featured key art from Katsuya "Rakugakingu" Terada, known for his work on The Legend of Zelda and Wizardry designs.

As for the Switch delay, a Nintendo Direct is rumored for next week, so Konami may be saving that announcement for Nintendo's own stage. The more likely explanation is that the port simply needs more time. Either way, PS5, Xbox, and PC players have their date locked in for October 15.