Bloodstained: Scarlet Engagement Prequel Arrives in 2026

Publisher 505 Games and developer ArtPlay have revealed Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, a prequel to Bloodstained: Ritual of Night scheduled for 2026.

Set in 16th century England prior to the events of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, The Scarlet Engagement follows Demon Lord Elias as he terrorizes the land from his floating castle with demonic forces. Players control two protagonists: Leonard Brandon, a warrior from the Church's Black Wolves faction, and Alexander Kyteler, a knight of the royal White Stags order. Together they battle to overthrow Elias and liberate a kingdom gripped by darkness.

Helmed by Koji Igarashi, creator of legendary titles like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, The Scarlet Engagement introduces new characters while maintaining narrative ties to its predecessor. The game promises accessibility for newcomers alongside rewarding lore connections for series veterans.

Players can alternate between Leo and Alex's playstyles while uncovering expanded combat possibilities across Bloodstained's most expansive setting yet. Dynamic day-night cycles affect both environmental aesthetics and gameplay interactions. The experience is further enriched by crafting, cooking, and customization systems.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2026 without a specific release date.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement Screenshots

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night launched in 2019 to critical acclaim, earning an 8.8/10 score for delivering "a fresh castle filled with inventive monsters and mysteries that honor Castlevania's legacy."

This announcement follows Sony's Summer Games Fest kickoff featuring major reveals like 007 First Light, Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Romeo is a Dead Man, and the Silent Hill f release date confirmation.