Category: ID@XBOXJuly 24, 2026 Find out How an Adorable Duck Drove us to Get Creative with Dodo Duckie VK Samhith, Founder & Creative Director, BornMonkie SummaryAvailable on both console and PC with XPA.Flip between 2D and 3D perspectives, discover hidden paths, solve puzzles and more.The story behind the design, inspiration and challenges leading to launch. We’ve all experienced a time when we’re surrounded by people yet feel completely out of place. That’s the exact feeling Dodo Duckie starts from: a duckling raised among chickens, convinced something is wrong with him because he just can’t fit in. A few years ago, we were an unproven team pitching a massive, overly ambitious game to publishers. Getting backing for a project of that scale is incredibly difficult in India’s indie scene, and the passes we got back eventually forced a practical question: What can we actually build and see through to the end completely on our own? The answer turned out to be a duck. I’m Samhith, the creative director at BornMonkie, a small indie studio in India that I run alongside my sister and producer, Samveda. This is the story behind our debut puzzle platformer, Dodo Duckie – now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Even though Dodo’s search for belonging comes from a deeply personal place for us, we wanted his adventure to feel like a warm hug. It’s a bright, cozy world where his clumsy attempts to fit in are played for laughs, turning a heavy theme into a light-hearted journey about playful discovery. Quacking the Code Back in the day, many of the studios we look up to started their journeys with iconic mascot platformers. Looking back, we realized we had accidentally followed in their exact footsteps with Dodo Duckie. We built our first prototype back in 2019, but as a busy service studio, the game became a long-term labor of love. For years, we chipped away at it on and off between client jobs and a million other prototypes. Early on, we made a radical design decision: remove the jump mechanic entirely from a 3D space. We initially assumed this unique switching mechanic would be our main hook. But as players tested the game, they showed us something else: they were falling for Dodo  Duckie before they even understood the puzzles. That feedback changed how we looked at our own game. We realized Dodo’s personality was the front door, and our puzzle design was the reason to stay once you walked through. Juggling service work meant it took until 2025 to fully realize this vision, but we’ve finally built a home we can’t wait for players to enter. Getting Dodo Just Right Getting the game to actually look right was a massive hurdle, we spent two to three months iterating on prototypes we just weren’t happy with. The turning point came when our Art director, Vincent Boichut, joined the team and diagnosed the real problem. Because we were balancing tight resources, we only had the budget to build a single set of assets that had to work perfectly across two perspectives. Everything had to be read clearly, whether players saw it head-on in 3D or flattened into 2D. That restraint became our superpower. It’s the real reason the world leans toward clean shapes, rounded edges, and vibrant colors. What looks like a purely stylistic choice was actually born out of a need for perfect readability, though we’re thrilled it happens to be extremely cute, too. Finding Our Wings Underneath the puzzles is a story we care about deeply. Dodo grows up among chickens, trying desperately to fit in before learning that his differences are exactly what make him special. It’s a struggle our team knows intimately. Growing up in India’s highly competitive culture, pursuing a creative career in game development meant fighting against strict expectations and risking isolation just to do what we love. Dodo’s journey is ours. Because of that, we chose to tell his story without heavy dialogue, leaning instead on animation, physical comedy, and character expression. We wanted the emotional beats to feel like a Pixar short, landing purely through what you see, making Dodo’s story universal no matter what language you speak. Our journey has finally come to life. Dodo Duckie is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC! If there’s one thing we hope players take away from our little bird’s story, it’s this: a leap doesn’t have to look graceful to count. Sometimes it just has to happen. Dodo Duckie BornMonkie ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $11.99 Get it now You’re a DUCK! with one special cap that gives you the power to switch between 2D and 3D. Use it to explore, switch perspectives, solve puzzles and save your chicken friends. 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Category: Next Week on XBOXJuly 24, 2026 Next Week on XBOX: New Games for July 27 to 31 Will Fulton, XBOX Wire Editor Welcome to Next Week on XBOX! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in! Halo: Campaign Evolved – Premium Edition Xbox Game Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 1229 ★★★★★ $69.99 Get it now Halo: Campaign Evolved – Standard Edition Xbox Game Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 1147 ★★★★★ $49.99 Pre-order Halo: Campaign Evolved – July 28Game Pass / XBOX Play Anywhere Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign. Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, and refined controls, plus three brand-new prequel missions featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying “Skulls” – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability. Pre-purchase Halo: Campaign Evolved and get the Foundry Armory Pack, featuring legendary looks for the Master Chief’s iconic Mark V Mjolnir armor. Dispatch AdHoc Studio ☆☆☆☆☆ 16 ★★★★★ Get it now Dispatch – July 29Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere From the writers & directors of Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us, Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy set in modern day Los Angeles. You play as Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man, whose mech-suit is destroyed in a battle against his nemesis, forcing him to take a job at a superhero dispatch center: not as a hero, but a dispatcher. In charge of rehabilitating a group of ex-supervillains, you must manage your roster while navigating office relationships and rebuilding your suit for a shot at revenge. Mistfall Hunter Skystone Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Mistfall Hunter – July 29Game Pass / Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere The gods have fallen, and the Gyldenmist is consuming the world. Revived by a mysterious girl named Dew, you are thrust into a bleak world to harvest Gyldenblood and mend the shattered Web of Fate. Scavenge, fight, and extract in a brutal cycle of survival to bring a flicker of hope to this forbidden land. Corsair Cove Hooded Horse ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Corsair Cove – July 31Game Pass The Golden Age of Piracy is coming to an end – as the high seas are commandeered by the Crown’s pirate hunters, an era of adventure and plunder comes to a close… unless you can save it. Corsair Cove is a city builder that challenges you to think tall as you build without constraints on cliff-faces and hilltops and manage complex production chains that span across great lengths and heights. Manufacture everything from spyglasses to cannons, equip your crew, and build mighty ships to take to the seas and wage war against the Crown. Raid and pillage nearby islands to acquire what you can’t make for yourself, exploring uncharted lands to uncover great treasures and threats alike. Above all, keep your crew in high spirits as your numbers grow – it’ll take thousands of pirates to keep the Jolly Roger flying! Gothic Classic THQ Nordic ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Gothic Classic – July 28Optimized for XBOX Series X|S The classic that revolutionized roleplaying games Return to Myrtana as the Nameless Hero in Gothic Classic, the award-winning RPG that shaped and inspired countless roleplaying games. War has been waged across the kingdom of Myrtana. Orcish hordes invaded human territory and the king of the land needed a lot of ore to forge enough weapons, should his army stand against this threat. Whoever breaks the law in these darkest of times is sentenced to serve in the giant penal colony of Khorinis, mining the so much needed ore. The King is Watching tinyBuild ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now The King Is Watching – July 29Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere Peasants toil, miners dig, and knights train… but only when I look at them! Wherever my eyes fall, progress follows. But the moment I glance elsewhere? Laziness! Chaos! I must choose wisely between the fields, the mines, or the barracks, expanding my gaze so no one slacks off! Water, wheat, stone, coal, silver, every resource fuels my empire! Farms feed my people, mines fund my ambitions, and workshops forge mighty defenses. Every decision shapes my reign, and only a well-managed kingdom will survive the storm. Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! Frosty Pop ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World – July 29Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Your truck is magic and you now owe a soul debt to the buff isekai elf girl living in your head. Run over pedestrians as Truck-kun, make deliveries, and defeat the Skeleton King across two worlds in this chaotic run-based anime driving game! Carissa Ward was all set to start her new job as the VP of marketing–until YOU hit her with your truck and transported her consciousness to a world of fantasy and magic! Rather than accept her fate, gathering a party and going on a journey of growth and self-discovery, Carissa uses all her knowledge of anime tropes and Japanese RPGs to find a different path: Unrepentant vehicular manslaughter. PAW Patrol: Dino World Outright Games Ltd. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $39.99 Pre-order PAW Patrol: Dino World – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Leap into a colossal, open-world with Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, and Zuma. First stop, PAW Patrol Mobile HQ with Ryder to find out what rescue missions you’ll em-bark on as your favorite Pup. Run through the Dino Plains looking for eggs. Stop by the Paleo Center, where Heidi and Eugenia will teach you how to care for your new dino friends. Decorate their enclosures to make them feel like home. Sniff out collectibles across the sandy shores and discover rocky caves with secret pools. Switch to vehicle mode to drive through a jungle, filled with tall trees, long vines and tropical fruits. Broken Reality 2000 Digital Tribe ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Broken Reality 2000 – July 27 Broken Reality 2000 is a single player adventure game set in an ethereal metaverse called NATEM, that is full of quests, puzzles and light platforming. Explore diferent sites, make new friends and collect Likes to raise your popularity and earn access to new areas. Discover a wide set of tools, like a virus-slaying Katana, a net-surfing Hoverboard, a Camera to take beautiful pictures, and more, that will help you explore this colorful world! Forever Skies Far From Home ☆☆☆☆☆ 4 ★★★★★ Get it now Forever Skies – July 27Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere Forever Skies is a first-person post-apocalyptic survival game. Play it solo or in coop and return to Earth, ravaged by an ecological disaster. Build, fly, upgrade and customize your high-tech airship. Craft tools, and scavenge resources to survive. Face dangers on the surface and hunt for viruses to cure a mysterious illness. Get Them Out! (Xbox Series) Afil Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Get Them Out! – July 28Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Get ready for an irresistibly cute puzzle where every move makes a difference. In Get Them Out!, a team of adorable hamsters is ready to drive every mole off the board, but only your strategy can place them in the perfect spots. Place hamster-shaped pieces of different forms, complete rows and columns, and watch hamsters and moles disappear in a satisfying chain reaction. As you progress, new challenges and special mole types make every stage even more engaging, requiring careful planning and creative thinking to completely clear the board. Gnardo back Home: PC Edition GatoBaro Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Gnardo back Home: PC Edition – July 28 Gnardo back Home is a precision platformer where every jump matters. Meet Gnardo, a grumpy old man who just wants to get back to his house. He didn’t ask for any of this: the spikes, the collapsing floors, the moving platforms, the doors that only open with a key somewhere on the other side of the stage. None of it. And yet, here we are. The Green Light Take IT Studio! sp. z o. o. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now The Green Light – July 28Optimized for XBOX Series X|S The Green Light is a first-person horror game that follows Fred, a man trapped in a dead-end job and haunted by disturbing hallucinations. One late night, a mysterious voice on the radio tells him that a distant green light promises the peace and freedom he has been searching for. With nothing left to lose, Fred sets out on a journey into the darkness, where he must confront the depths of his own mind. Discover a story of self-discovery and decide whether freedom is worth the ultimate sacrifice. 4 The Elements Mito Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now 4 The Elements – July 29 4 The Elements is a 2D Action Platformer inspired by the best games of this genre from the 90s. Switch in real time between the four elements of nature to overcome challenges, acquire new abilities and defeat powerful bosses in beautifully crafted thematic stages. You control each of the four elements of nature, Fire, Earth, Air, and Water, that for some mysterious reason find themselves trapped inside a magic crystal and forced to share the same body. By switching between the characters on the fly, you will be able to use their different attacks, movement and abilities to face enemies, solve puzzles and unveil the truth behind their mutual predicament as they fight to escape from their imprisonment. Case Solved: The London Files Minimol Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Case Solved: The London Files – July 29 Case Solved: The London Files blends cozy noir storytelling with the elegant logic-driven deduction popularized by Einstein’s Riddle. Behind London’s fog and gaslight, every case becomes a closed puzzle: a handful of suspects, a tangle of conflicting testimonies, and a single answer that yields to logic alone. Each one is a carefully crafted challenge, solved through reasoning and observation, inviting players to uncover buried truths. Dungeon Antiqua AMATA K.K. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Dungeon Antiqua – July 29Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere Dungeon Antiqua is a dungeon crawl-type RPG with beautiful dots and nostalgic sounding chiptunes that are reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s. Dungeon Antiqua is a portal to new adventures for players who love retro games. Enjoy new challenges while reminiscing about the good old days of gaming! Kusan: City of Wolves PQube Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $14.99 $11.99 Pre-order Kusan: City of Wolves – July 29Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / XBOX Play Anywhere Welcome to Kusan: City of Wolves, a brutal top-down shooter set in a neon-drenched urban jungle consumed by violence and corruption. Kusan delivers hardcore action where one mistake means death. Master gunplay, perfect your movement, survive the streets and combat arenas ruled by furious kingpins that demand speed, precision and flawless execution. Every moment of action is intensified by Korean hip-hop heavyweight Loptimist’s adrenaline-fuelled soundtrack drenched with head-bopping loops and deep 808s pushing you forward without mercy. Railway Routes Rising Moon Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Railway Routes – July 29XBOX Play Anywhere Railway Routes is a relaxing grid-based railway puzzle where you draw tracks, guide trains, and create the perfect route. Each level challenges your logic, planning, and creativity as you build efficient railway networks. With cozy visuals and satisfying track-building mechanics, Railway Routes delivers a calm puzzle experience that is easy to learn but full of clever challenges. Retrace The Light E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $17.99 $14.39 Pre-order Retrace The Light – July 29Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Set in the year 3323, the revolutionary Meta Mirror Project emerged from the collaboration between humanity and the super AI “Primus.” This ambitious venture seeks to stabilize society and ensure security by repairing the consciousness of individuals struggling with intense emotional turmoil. Your journey unfolds as Enforcer Decem, tasked with repairing bizarre Mirrormazes stemming from human minds. Navigate through these mazes, solve puzzles, and confront powerful Mirrormares. Sizeable Alchemy Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Sizeable – July 29XBOX Play Anywhere Sizeable is a short, relaxing, and casual puzzle/exploration game centered around the unique mechanic of shrinking and growing. Originally developed as a student project, the game evolved into Business Goose Studio’s first commercial title. It’s a passion project, made with care and creativity, and we hope you enjoy playing it as much as we enjoyed making it. Wake Up, Lia! Eastasiasoft Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Wake Up, Lia! – July 29Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere Wake Up, Lia! is a narrative-driven 2D precision platformer set within nightmares shaped by bullying. As Lia, you will have to overcome deadly traps across 20 handcrafted stages to recover lost memories and fragments of your identity. Embark on a heartfelt journey of trauma, resilience and rebirth, blending emotional storytelling with challenging gameplay and an atmospheric soundtrack! Play solo or team up with a friend in local co-op! Angel Engine Black Lantern Collective ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Angel Engine – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Cage an angel. Ransack Heaven. In a far-flung dystopian future, the Angel Engine Initiative carries on as the last hope for humanity. Seal yourself in your operating room, perform surgery on comatose test subjects, and pray you make it out alive. Angel Engine is a horror surgery simulator that explores a missing chapter of the Angel Engine series. Nuclear fire burned the skies long ago, leaving behind a world of ash — but the Second Tower of Babel still stands. Join a crew of scientists in their effort to save the human species from damnation. But remember: there are no heroes here. HARDWIRED: Ghost In The Reset Villano Wild Studio ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $14.99 $12.74 Pre-order HARDWIRED: Ghost In The Reset – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere Step into a brutal dystopian world in this intense single-player action-adventure shooter, developed entirely by a solo independent creator. You are Kay, a cynical combatant who survived the collapse by purging all sentimentality; for her, emotions are nothing more than a critical system failure. Leafy Corner Fireline Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Leafy Corner – July 30XBOX Play Anywhere Run the plant shop of your dreams in Leafy Corner, a cozy shop management game where you grow, sell, and care for real-life houseplants! Step into the role of a plant shop owner. Grow plants, serve your customers, and create a warm, inviting space filled with greenery and charm. Mechaconda QUByte Interactive ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Mechaconda – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere Get ready for the arcade evolution! In Mechaconda, you take control of a mechanical serpent on a suicide mission to defeat Dr. EVIL’s army. Blending classic growth mechanics with bullet hell chaos, every match is a challenge of survival and strategy. Build your loadout in real-time, choose from dozens of upgrades, and transform your tail into a deadly line of defense. Nightmare Shift Ultimate Games S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $11.99 Pre-order Nightmare Shift – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Take on night shifts at a remote motel, handle unsettling guests, and navigate eerie events. Experience Emma’s unnerving apartment life, feel the unease of being watched, and question what’s real as the line between reality and nightmare blurs. They say the walls have ears… but what if the walls have eyes—watching, waiting, seeing everything you do. Redtail Relic Rush Afil Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Redtail Relic Rush – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere Adventure never slows down in Redtail Relic Rush! Join Redtail, a fearless red panda explorer armed with a grappling hook, on an action-packed journey through ancient ruins filled with danger, mystery, and legendary treasures. Run nonstop through thrilling platforming challenges packed with traps, enemies, and daring leaps. Swing through the air, build momentum at just the right moment, and master the perfect rhythm to overcome every obstacle as you race toward the legendary Golden Idol. Shard Squad Nuntius Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Shard Squad – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere Survive an insane army of enemies with a squad of elemental creatures! Recruit new members for your team by defeating the bosses that cross your path, and combine their traits to unlock powerful effects! Unity not only brings strength, it also creates new abilities! Truxton Extreme Clear River Games AB ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Free Trial Truxton Extreme – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Truxton Extreme delivers white-hot shooter thrills for masters and novices alike. Take down hordes of alien invaders with your Power Shot, Truxton Beam, Thunder Laser, Homing Shot, Star‑mine Shot, and more! Don’t forget to breathe as you face off against gigantic bosses in the ultimate battle for humanity’s survival! Turnip Mountain JanduSoft ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $10.49 $8.39 Pre-order Turnip Mountain – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Turnip Mountain is a physics-based climbing adventure built around a unique control system: each hand is controlled independently. Enjoy a natural and satisfying climbing experience. Master your momentum as you grip walls, swing from ropes, launch yourself across gaps and discover your own route to the summit. Every move depends on your skill, making every successful climb its own reward. Verho – Curse of Faces CobraTekku Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Verho – Curse of Faces – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S The Curse of Faces – where revealing one’s face means instant death – has befallen the world. Humanity was brought close to the brink. After 264 years of “the Era of Solitude”, a symbol of safety appeared – Masks. While the origins of the curse are still shrouded in mystery, many travelers still venture to the source of this curse in an attempt to reveal its secrets. Will you strive to lift the curse from the world, or will you harness its power for your own ends? The choice is yours. Zombie Graveyard Simulator PlayWay S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $14.99 $13.49 Pre-order Zombie Graveyard Simulator – July 30Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere In a world where the dead turn into zombies, your job is to manage your very own Graveyard! Perform burials and cremations, fulfill visitor requests, manage facilities, and keep your staff and defenses in top shape. But when night falls, everything changes. The dead may rest, but the zombies don’t. They are coming for your precious work! Bee With Gun Ratalaika Games S.L. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Bee With Gun – July 31Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere In Bee with Gun, you´re not just fighting to survive, your goal is to destroy enemy bases while protecting your hive. Take control of an armed bee and fight through 40 carefully designed levels across four unique environments. Destroy enemy strongholds while defending your hive against constant waves using buildable towers. hyperdrive inn Dolores Entertainment ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now hyperdrive inn – July 31Optimized for XBOX Series X|S / Smart Delivery / XBOX Play Anywhere The ever-growing accommodation behemoth known as Hyperdrive Inn is your father’s creation, and he is also responsible for triggering a set of cataclysmic events that threaten to destroy everything in existence. He also happens to be the only person in the universe who can fix everything. Too bad he has gone missing. What’s even worse: he went hiding somewhere in the infinite hotel of his. And to top it all off, you’re the one who must hunt him down and save the day. Waterpark Simulator Cayplay Studios LLC ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Waterpark Simulator – July 31Optimized for XBOX Series X|S Build and run your own waterpark. Design slides, send guests flying with ragdoll physics, manage staff, and fully customize your park. Turn total madness into a five-star empire in this first-person management simulator! Related Stories for “Next Week on XBOX: New Games for July 27 to 31” Category: Next Week on XBOXNext Week on XBOX: New Games for July 20 to 24 Category: Next Week on XBOXNext Week on XBOX: New Games for July 13 to 17 Category: Next Week on XBOXNext Week on XBOX: New Games for July 6 to 10 The post Next Week on XBOX: New Games for July 27 to 31 appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Category: Games Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – How KONAMI and Evil Empire Reimagined Castlevania’s Return John Harry De LaraXbox Wire France Editor Published July 24, 2026 It seems bizarre to say it, but there hasn’t been a brand-new Castlevania game for more than a decade and – for the series’ long-awaited return – KONAMI made a choice that may surprise some fans. It’s entrusting one of its most iconic franchises to French studio Evil Empire, best known for its work on Dead Cells, including the acclaimed Return to Castlevania DLC. Set within the unique surroundings of the Chapelle Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc in Paris’ 14th arrondissement, members of the press were invited for a first hands-on look at Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. The venue proved particularly fitting, as the game itself opens in a dark, gothic interpretation of the French capital. Following our preview session, we sat down with Tsutomu Taniguchi (Producer at KONAMI) and Emmanuel Nouaille (Creative Director at Evil Empire) to discuss how this new chapter in the Castlevania saga came to life. A Collaboration That Started as a Tribute Before Belmont’s Curse, Evil Empire had already collaborated with KONAMI on Return to Castlevania, the celebrated Dead Cells DLC. At the time, nothing suggested that this partnership would eventually lead to the development of a brand-new entry in the Castlevania series. According to Tsutomu Taniguchi, KONAMI’s decision to continue working with the French studio came down to two key factors: “The first is Evil Empire’s passion for Castlevania. The second is their expertise in action games. Castlevania has always been an action series, so it was essential that the controls, gameplay, and overall feel lived up to players’ expectations.” Beyond their passion for the franchise, KONAMI was looking for a team capable of understanding what defines Castlevania while also mastering the demands of modern action game design. Emmanuel Nouaille, however, receives those compliments with humility. Smiling, he admits it almost feels presumptuous to answer after Taniguchi’s praise before summarizing what, in his view, ultimately made the difference: “Our best résumé was simply our work.” Originally, Evil Empire had only proposed creating a DLC as a tribute to Castlevania. It was through ongoing conversations with KONAMI that the collaboration gradually evolved into something far more ambitious. Beyond the studio’s technical expertise, the partnership also allowed both teams to build a strong relationship of trust. With Return to Castlevania developing under particularly positive circumstances, working together again on a larger project became the natural next step. Nouaille illustrates that trust with a memorable anecdote: “When we finished the DLC, Tsutomu Taniguchi visited the studio to play it. As he explored the castle, he discovered several details and Easter eggs he hadn’t noticed before. Then he simply turned around and gave us a thumbs up.” A simple gesture—but one that left a lasting impression on the team. For Nouaille, that was probably the moment he realized this collaboration could become much more than a one-off. Defining What Castlevania Is For Taniguchi and Nouaille alike, everything began with the same question: What truly makes a Castlevania game? It sounds like an obvious question. Yet bringing back one of KONAMI’s most iconic franchises proved far more complex than it first appeared. As Nouaille explains: “Castlevania means something different to everyone. We all grew up with different games, different characters, and different memories. Before we could build a new game, we first had to agree on the core pillars that define Castlevania.” Taniguchi shares that perspective, explaining that every fan has a different relationship with the series. KONAMI’s role was therefore to establish a common creative framework—one that would preserve Castlevania’s identity while giving Evil Empire the freedom to express its own vision. Before introducing a new protagonist, a new story, or new gameplay systems, both teams focused on establishing those foundations. The game had to remain a 2D action-exploration experience, fit within the official Castlevania canon, and keep the Vampire Killer whip at the heart of its gameplay. Once those principles had been agreed upon, KONAMI deliberately gave the French studio considerable creative freedom. That freedom, however, was never a blank check. As Nouaille explains, modernizing Castlevania never meant turning its back on the franchise’s legacy. Every new idea had to grow from one of the series’ defining pillars before being adapted to the expectations of today’s players. The whip is perhaps the clearest example. As one of Castlevania’s most iconic symbols, it was a non-negotiable element. Rather than reinventing it, Evil Empire chose to expand its role in both combat and traversal. The goal was to make players feel like agile, powerful vampire hunters capable of using the whip as naturally to move through the world as they do to defeat their enemies. The same philosophy shaped the game’s overall pacing. The team wanted a faster, more energetic adventure while making exploration more demanding through traps, environmental hazards, and increasingly creative uses of the whip. Modernizing Castlevania was never about simplifying its gameplay—it was about expanding the player’s possibilities while preserving the sense of progression that has always defined the series. That same approach extends to the narrative. While continuing the story after Dracula’s Curse and Curse of Darkness, Belmont’s Curse also introduces a brand-new heroine, Rose, who naturally finds her place within the established Castlevania universe. She’s an extension of the lore, not a random offshoot from it. Working within this framework, Evil Empire was able to bring its own sensibilities to the project by setting the adventure in Paris and enriching its world with numerous historical references. More than a licensed production, Belmont’s Curse became the result of an ongoing dialogue between KONAMI and the French studio. As Nouaille puts it, “This wasn’t a work-for-hire project. It was a genuine creative collaboration.” A Philosophy Felt from the First Minutes All of those creative decisions quickly become apparent once the controller is in your hands. Rather than simply updating the formula, Belmont’s Curse aims to evolve the series’ gameplay while preserving the foundations that have defined Castlevania for decades. Character animations, visual effects, sound design, and the impact of every attack all contribute to making combat feel more dynamic, readable, and satisfying without ever losing the unmistakable identity of the franchise. The whip’s versatility naturally encourages players to revisit previously explored areas in search of hidden paths while making movement feel considerably more fluid. Taniguchi confirms that expanding the whip’s role was one of the team’s primary goals: “The whip remains true to Castlevania’s identity, but we wanted to give it a new dimension.” The decision to set the adventure in Paris also reinforces the game’s distinctive identity. During our hands-on session, landmarks such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Catacombs appeared alongside references to several French locations, helping create a setting that feels authentic rather than merely decorative. Meanwhile, the balance between exploration and combat quickly feels intuitive, supported by a striking art direction, atmospheric soundtrack, and carefully crafted sound design that immediately evoke the unmistakable spirit of Castlevania. A New Chapter, Not Just a Tribute While much remains to be discovered, Nouaille is quick to point out that the version presented to us represents only a small glimpse of the full adventure: “What you’ve seen today is only the beginning of the adventure. Once you reach the castle, everything changes. We hope players will be surprised by the game’s new structure, but also by its characters, its story, and all the secrets waiting to be uncovered.” Throughout our conversation, one idea came up repeatedly: Belmont’s Curse was never conceived as a simple tribute to Castlevania. KONAMI first defined the series’ essential foundations before allowing Evil Empire to build upon them with its own creative sensibilities. Somewhere between those two visions, a genuine partnership emerged—one that appears to have shaped every major decision throughout development. For Emmanuel Nouaille, one particular memory perfectly captures that philosophy. It wasn’t a spectacular boss fight or a major story sequence, but something much simpler. As development progressed, the animations, visual effects, iconic creatures, music, and sound design gradually gave the project its own identity. Yet the real turning point came when he instinctively opened the map to mark areas he knew he would revisit later after unlocking new abilities: “That’s when I realized we were no longer just testing mechanics. We were actually playing a Castlevania game.” That same humility also defines Evil Empire’s ambitions for the franchise. The team’s goal was never to surpass landmarks such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but simply to contribute a new chapter to a series that has continued to evolve for nearly four decades. Judging by this first hands-on experience and our conversation with the developers, Belmont’s Curse appears determined to do exactly that: honour Castlevania’s legacy while confidently forging its own identity. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse arrives on October 15 for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Midnight Edition KONAMI ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $39.99 Pre-order [Pre-order Bonus] This bonus item is available to players who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. ・Alucard Style Costume [Overview] This product contains the full game, Digital Sound & Art Gallery, as well as 3 bonus in-game items. ・Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse ・Digital Sound & Art Gallery ・Bonuses (In-game items) x3 └ Trevor Style Costume └ Sypha Style Costume └ Family's Grace（Relic） Medieval Paris, Where the Tolling Bells Herald the End 1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows. Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they hunt down the beasts bleeding from the looming castle. Rose is soon swept up in the dark conspiracy that lurks beneath. Will she succeed in saving Paris from devastation? Satisfying Whip Action Castlevania's iconic whip action is more satisfying than ever! Crack your whip to move around freely like a trapeze artist! Master the whip mechanics and be creative to pounce on your prey like a wolf in fast-paced combat! Diverse Bosses and the Arcana System Face-off against legendary bosses including Death, Medusa and Carmilla in addition to enigmatic new bosses such as Joan of Arc. Once defeated, bosses are sealed into Rose's tarot cards, turning them into Arcana – use their skills to cast spells and obtain unique special actions Customize Your Battle Style with Weapons and Relics Customize Rose’s battle style by using a variety of equipment, including weapons spanning seven distinct categories and Relics that trigger powerful effects through both offense and defense. Combine equipment you discover through exploration to create your own playstyle! Iconic Castlevania Atmosphere, Reimagined in New Stages From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the game presents a fresh take on the world of Castlevania. Explore maps filled with both new features and familiar elements inspired by classic Castlevania titles. ※The image displayed are under development ※Contents/Specs are subject to change without notice Castlevania: Belmont's Curse KONAMI ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $29.99 Pre-order [Pre-order Bonus] Alucard Style Costume This bonus item is available to players who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. Medieval Paris, Where the Tolling Bells Herald the End 1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows. Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they hunt down the beasts bleeding from the looming castle. Rose is soon swept up in the dark conspiracy that lurks beneath. Will she succeed in saving Paris from devastation? Satisfying Whip Action Castlevania's iconic whip action is more satisfying than ever! Crack your whip to move around freely like a trapeze artist! Master the whip mechanics and be creative to pounce on your prey like a wolf in fast-paced combat! Diverse Bosses and the Arcana System Face-off against legendary bosses including Death, Medusa and Carmilla in addition to enigmatic new bosses such as Joan of Arc. Once defeated, bosses are sealed into Rose's tarot cards, turning them into Arcana – use their skills to cast spells and obtain unique special actions Customize Your Battle Style with Weapons and Relics Customize Rose’s battle style by using a variety of equipment, including weapons spanning seven distinct categories and Relics that trigger powerful effects through both offense and defense. Combine equipment you discover through exploration to create your own playstyle! Iconic Castlevania Atmosphere, Reimagined in New Stages From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the game presents a fresh take on the world of Castlevania. Explore maps filled with both new features and familiar elements inspired by classic Castlevania titles. Related Stories for “Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – How KONAMI and Evil Empire Reimagined Castlevania’s Return” Category: ID@XBOXAlpha Nomos Turns Instruments into Weapons, Coming to Xbox Series X|S Category: GamesFree Play Days – For Honor, Bleach Rebirth of Souls, Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection Version, and More Category: GamesHalo: Campaign Evolved – The Brand New Features in This Remake of A Classic The post Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – How KONAMI and Evil Empire Reimagined Castlevania’s Return appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Category: ID@XBOXJuly 23, 2026 Alpha Nomos Turns Instruments into Weapons, Coming to Xbox Series X|S Theofanis Gavriilidis, CMO, RibCage Games SummaryRhythm-action roguelite with combat synced to the beat.Play as Cello and wield live-recorded instruments as weapons.Musical upgrades reshape both your combat and your soundtrack. I want to introduce you to Cello, and to the strangest weapon she carries: the beat itself. Alpha Nomos is a rhythm-action roguelite, and it’s coming to Xbox Series X|S. If you’ve never heard of it, here’s the one thing to hold onto. Everything Cello does, every strike and every dodge, lands in time with the music. Play on the beat and she hits harder, moves cleaner, and the whole world seems to move with her. Fall out of rhythm and you feel it just as fast. Cello wakes into a ruined world. The cities are abandoned, the arenas are corrupted, and the puppets that fill them have turned hostile. What’s left to fight with is music, and Cello wields it literally. Her weapons are instruments, and not sampled ones. We recorded them live, so the sounds you hear as you fight are real players and real takes folded into the combat itself. That live audio isn’t set dressing. As you push deeper, you pull musical upgrades that change how Cello fights and rewrite the soundtrack at the same time. A new layer of sound is also a new way to play. By the end of a strong run, the track playing underneath you is one you built through your own choices, and it sounds different from anyone else’s. The structure underneath all this is a roguelite. Runs are built to be replayed, arenas shift and advance as you go, and you get a little stronger and a little sharper each time you come back. We took our cues from games that ask you to earn your mastery rather than hand it to you. The kind where getting good is the point, and the reward is that moment when your inputs, the enemies and the music all click into the same groove. We’re a small studio, and this is our first commercial release. Alpha Nomos started from a simple frustration: we love rhythm games, and we always felt the rhythm could go deeper. We felt it could be the foundation of the whole thing instead of a layer on top. If you’ve ever felt that flow of moving in perfect sync with a song, that feeling is what we built the entire game around. Alpha Nomos is coming to Xbox Series X|S. Meet Cello, pick up the instruments and find the beat. Alpha Nomos RibCage Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now It's time to wield the beat in Alpha Nomos, a rhythm-action roguelite where every instrument is a weapon and every fight moves to the music. Play as Cello and slice through an army of rogue puppets in a vibrant, melody-twisted world where combat pulses to the soundtrack and timing is everything. Who knew saving the world could sound this good? Join Cello and her friends as they explore their ruined world, fight murderous puppets, and uncover the mysteries of the powerful force known as music. What caused the destruction of this world? What is music? What is Alpha Nomos? All these answers await Cello as she fights to bring balance back to a corrupted world. Time your moves to the beat to unleash show-stopping combos and perfectly choreographed chaos. Master the rhythm, gather living sound, and breathe life back into a world that moves to the music you make. Prepare for a run where every strike, every upgrade, and every note pulls you deeper into the song. Related Stories for “Alpha Nomos Turns Instruments into Weapons, Coming to Xbox Series X|S” Category: ID@XBOXFixForce: The Fun Starts When Everything Goes Wrong Category: ID@XBOXGigaBash’s Ultraman Zero DLC Brings Two New Characters, Crackling with Rivalry Category: ID@XBOXHow Blueberry Shows Players the Purpose of Traumatic Memories The post Alpha Nomos Turns Instruments into Weapons, Coming to Xbox Series X|S appeared first on XBOX Wire.