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This week in PC games: play a human-eating Katamari from outer space, take over a nature reserve in Planet Zoo 2, and battle Napoleonic body horror in Valor Mortis
This week in PC games features a variety of new and upcoming titles, including Planet Zoo 2, Valor Mortis with Napoleonic body horror, and a Katamari-like tentacle rolling game. Other notable mentions include a stealth game, a strategy game, a sheep herding simulator, and a space whale city builder.
Triple-I Initiative October 2026: Everything Announced At The Showcase
The Triple-I Initiative showcase featured a variety of new game announcements and updates, including Aftergods, Waltz and Jam, Among Us Story: On Guard, and Brotato: Primal Dread. Many of these titles are slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with some also heading to Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms. Several games also have demos available on Steam.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse gets first review
The first review for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, launching soon on Nintendo Switch, has been published by Famitsu. Four reviewers awarded the game an average score of 8 out of 10, praising its challenging action, captivating story, and immersive environments, though noting the whip-based movement might feel sluggish to some.
A rough guide to 40 years of Castlevania and the brand new Belmont’s Curse game
Konami is reviving the Castlevania series with Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, its first new game in 12 years, launching October 15. This guide provides a retrospective on the franchise's 40-year history, its role in defining the Metroidvania genre, and details on the new game's plot and connection to the Netflix series.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse gets free demo ahead of October launch
A free demo for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch, offering the game's first chapter with progress carrying over to the full release. The game, developed by the Dead Cells team, is set to launch on October 15.
Play Anticipated Konami PS5 Game for Free via PlayStation Store
PlayStation 5 players can download a free demo for the upcoming Konami action-adventure game, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire. The game, set after Castlevania 3 and Curse of Darkness, will launch on October 15, 2026, for $29.99, with a Midnight Edition available for $39.99.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Has Its Fangs In Me Already, And Fangfully, There’s A Pre-Order Discount
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire, offers a familiar yet refined Metroidvania experience reminiscent of Dead Cells. Players control Rose Belmont, a vampire hunter in Paris, utilizing a Tarot Card system to wield defeated enemies' skills. The game is available for pre-order at a discount on Steam, including a bonus Alucard Style Costume.
The Biggest New Game Releases Of October 2026
October 2026 is set to be a massive month for game releases, with numerous titles launching before the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. The month features a diverse lineup including remasters like Dynasty Warriors 3, new entries in established franchises like Ace Combat 8 and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and promising new IPs such as Hellraiser: Revival and Phantom Blade Zero. The releases span across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch, offering something for every player.
The 12 most exciting video game releases of October 2026
October 2026 is set to feature a diverse lineup of video game releases, including Ace Combat 8: Wings Of Theve, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and Gears Of War: E-Day. Other notable titles include Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and Final Fantasy Resonance, which marks a return to turn-based combat. Microsoft is also releasing an Xbox and PC exclusive, while Nintendo is launching Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.
Putting Together A Game Showcase Means Treating 45 Minutes Like A Puzzle
Evil Empire's co-founder Benjamin Laulan discusses the meticulous process of curating the Triple-I Initiative video game showcases, emphasizing respect for viewer time with a 45-minute, trailer-only format. The initiative focuses on high-quality indie games and aims to be a cornerstone of marketing campaigns, with plans to expand reach and collaborations.
Castlevania celebrates turning 40 by giving away the original game for free
Konami is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Castlevania by offering the original 1986 game for free on mobile platforms until October 24, 2026. Additionally, various Castlevania titles are available at significant discounts across PlayStation Store and Steam. The upcoming entry, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, is set to release on October 15 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Shack Chat: Which developer would you like to see make a Konami game next?
Shacknews staff members discuss which developers they would like to see tackle Konami's classic franchises. Suggestions include Remedy Entertainment for Metal Gear, VS Studio for Bloody Roar, and Yacht Club Games for Contra, among others.
Castlevania Turns 40, And Konami May Have Just Teased A 3D Collection
Konami celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Castlevania series with a tribute video that may be teasing a new 3D collection. The video featured artwork from several 3D-era titles, sparking speculation about a compilation of PS2 and Xbox 360/PS3 games. Konami also announced sales for select Castlevania titles and new vinyl soundtracks.
The Rogue Prince of Persia won’t be getting any additional updates
Evil Empire has announced that the Anniversary Update will be the final update for The Rogue Prince of Persia, marking the end of its development. The studio expressed gratitude to the over one million players who supported the game, their first project. Separately, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was offered as a limited-time free trial to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
"There is no easy answer anymore, there's no kind of playbook" – Secret Mode is hedging its bets with two very different pillars
Independent UK publisher Secret Mode is experiencing significant growth by focusing on two distinct pillars: 'pure indie' titles and higher-budget games like Star Wars: Galactic Racer. The company, which recently separated from Sumo Digital and Tencent, is also exploring a 'caretaker development' model for existing titles and emphasizes the importance of discoverability in the current market.
Dead Cells studio's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is getting a demo in time for the spooky season
Evil Empire, known for its work on Dead Cells, announced that a demo for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse will be available on October 1st for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The demo will feature the entire first chapter, with progress carrying over to the full release on October 14th. The game is described as a blend of old and new action-platformer trends and is the first of multiple Castlevania projects from Konami.
A Castlevania: Belmont's Curse demo kicks off the Halloween season in October, with save data transferring to the…
Konami and developer Evil Empire are releasing a free demo for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse on October 1st, with save data transferable to the full game launching October 15th. The demo will feature the opening chapter and run at 60fps on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, while the base Nintendo Switch version will run at 30fps.
The Rogue Prince of Persia Gets Major Update | Invision Game Community
Ubisoft and Evil Empire have released the first anniversary update for The Rogue Prince of Persia, a popular roguelite. This major expansion introduces new combat zones, a freeze/slow mechanic, speed run and parkour modes, daily challenges, and reworked final palace biome. The update also adds new weapons, tools, and companion animals, enhancing the game's core movement and combat systems.
The Rogue Prince of Persia “Anniversary” update announced, out now
Ubisoft and Evil Empire have released the "Anniversary Update" for The Rogue Prince of Persia, introducing new equipment, a statistics screen, balance adjustments, and core system enhancements. The update aims to improve early game pacing, add elemental interactions like a freeze mechanic, and refine weapon affixes.
The Triple-I Initiative Showcase Is Getting A Second Event In 2026
The Triple-I Initiative Showcase will return on October 8th with a second event in 2024, following its annual presentation format. This showcase will feature eight world premieres and announcements from various developers and publishers, including Team17, Amanita Design, and Strange Scaffold, with reveals for games like Dave the Diver and Risk of Rain 2. The event, organized by Evil Empire, focuses purely on game trailers.
