Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, 2026 Prequel

Publisher 505 Games and developer ArtPlay have unveiled Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, a prequel to Bloodstained, slated for a 2026 release.

Set in 16th-century England before the events of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, The Scarlet Engagement introduces a mysterious floating castle commanded by the Demon Lord Elias, whose demonic forces are terrorizing the populace. Players take on the roles of two new heroes: Leonard Brandon, a young fighter from the Church’s Black Wolves clan, and Alexander Kyteler, a knight of the Kingdom's White Stags. United, they must rise up to overthrow Demon Lord Elias's reign of terror and break the shackles of a kingdom besieged by evil.

Created by Koji Igarashi, the visionary behind classics such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, The Scarlet Engagement promises a fresh cast of allies and enemies that suggest deep connections to its predecessor while remaining welcoming to newcomers unfamiliar with the game's rich lore.

You can control both Leo and Alex simultaneously, discovering new moves and combos while exploring Bloodstained's largest map to date. The world features a day-night cycle that not only alters lighting but also your interactions with the environment. Additional elements include crafting, cooking, and customization options.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement does not yet have a precise launch date but is scheduled to arrive on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S sometime in 2026.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement Screenshots

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Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night launched in 2019 and, in our view, the wait was justified—we awarded it a Great 8.8, describing it as "a whole new castle to explore, packed with unexpected monsters and mysteries in the spirit of classic Castlevania."

Of course, this is just one of many recent game announcements. Sony kicked off the summer reveal season in grand fashion, serving up a smorgasbord of titles to build excitement ahead of Summer Games Fest Week. Catch all the announcements from last night's PlayStation State of Play 2025, including 007 First Light, Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Romeo is a Dead Man, and the release date for Silent Hill f.