Evil Empire
Evil Empire business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Paris Games Biz showcased a guarded optimism in the face of turmoil, both locally and in the industry at large | Opinion
Despite civil unrest and industry-wide financial turmoil, the Paris Games Biz event showcased a guarded optimism among French game developers and publishers. Many smaller studios credited government funding initiatives with keeping them afloat, while discussions also touched on the potential of existing IP and the evolving role of marketing. Concerns were raised about the generosity of French government support compared to the UK, and the struggles of larger companies like Ubisoft were acknowledged.
Konami president Hideki Hayakawa believes AI 'won't bring a significant change' to gaming
Konami President Hideki Hayakawa stated that artificial intelligence will not significantly change the gaming industry, emphasizing the irreplaceable role of human creativity. While acknowledging AI's potential for production efficiency, he believes people and creators are paramount to developing entertaining and innovative games. Konami supports its creators in safely adopting new technologies like AI.
Evil Empire "will always miss Dead Cells," but it's already working on its dream collab
Evil Empire's CEO Thomas Pfeiffer and Head of Business Ben Laulan reflect on their studio's origins supporting Dead Cells and discuss future projects. While they express nostalgia for Dead Cells, they are excited about their current work on The Rogue Prince of Persia, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and a secret dream collaboration they are already developing.
"Thank you, Hades" - Evil Empire on indie game discovery, how Steam early access has changed, and the rise of AI tools
Evil Empire's CEO Thomas Pfeiffer and Head of Business Ben Laulan discuss the studio's growth from supporting Dead Cells to developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse and The Rogue Prince of Persia. They highlight the success of their Triple-i Initiative for indie game discovery and share insights on collaborations with larger publishers. The pair also express concerns about the impact of AI on the creative process and the meaning of game development.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse devs are "proud" of the game's hot characters: "There should be a…
Developers at Evil Empire are proud of the character designs in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, acknowledging the fan art and the 'hot' nature of characters like Trevor Belmont. They express happiness with the fan reception and even suggest a 'hot dad' award for game characters. The game itself is described as a compelling Metroidvania with a strong return for the franchise.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Went Through a Slower Dark Souls-Style Iteration During Development
Evil Empire's Ben Laulan revealed that Castlevania: Belmont's Curse underwent several development iterations, including a slower, Dark Souls-inspired version and one too similar to Dead Cells. The final game strikes a balance between respecting the Castlevania IP and modern gameplay. The title is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse once had a Dark Souls "vibe," but it was "too slow, too intense, and…
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse initially experimented with a slower, more intense 'Dark Souls' combat style, but developer Evil Empire found it didn't fit the Castlevania identity. The game was then sped up, leading to comparisons with Dead Cells, before settling on its current fast-paced action. The article praises Evil Empire's commitment to a distinct Castlevania feel, noting the game has received critical acclaim.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review - inspired by great ideas, but doomed by questionable execution
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse offers ambitious Metroidvania gameplay inspired by the series' highs, but is hampered by awkward controls and technical issues. While the game features clever level design and engaging combat moments, frustrating execution, particularly in platforming and boss fights, detracts from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game is not considered bad, but its ambition may have outpaced its development.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse swung between Dark Souls and Dead Cells to find the form that "feels good in your hands"
Evil Empire's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse aims to blend the exploration of Castlevania with the modern feel of games like Dead Cells and Dark Souls. Developers Thomas Pfeiffeir and Ben Laulan discussed the iterative process of finding the right gameplay balance, emphasizing creative control and player expectations. The game has launched on PC with strong initial player counts.
Crack The Whip In Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse has been released for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, featuring Rose Belmont as the new protagonist. The 2D action-adventure game, set in 1499 Paris, introduces new combat mechanics with the Vampire Killer whip and collectible Arcana derived from defeated bosses. The game is available in Standard and Midnight Editions.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review - the origin of Metroidvania
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a competent, albeit low-budget, return for the series, offering enjoyable platforming and combat reminiscent of its Metroidvania roots. While it doesn't innovate significantly and suffers from obscure progression, its sensible price point and solid gameplay make it a worthwhile, if not groundbreaking, revival.
I want to love the new Castlevania, but it just feels a little off
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse offers a fun experience with clever platforming and a gorgeous tarot card presentation, but suffers from a lack of polish and some frustrating control quirks. Developer Evil Empire, known for Dead Cells, seems to have struggled to imbue this new Castlevania with the expected 'juice,' leading to controls that don't quite gel and a less satisfying feel than anticipated.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Is a Worthy Heir to its Legacy
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a triumphant return for the series, blending the best of modern Metroidvania design with the franchise's iconic gothic atmosphere. Developed by KONAMI in partnership with Evil Empire and Motion Twin, the game features satisfying combat, a deep spell system, and a compelling narrative centered on Rose Belmont. It is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Metacritic score is only behind the beloved GBA trilogy, Dawn of Sorrow, and Symphony…
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse has achieved a strong Metacritic score of 86, placing it among the highest-rated entries in the long-running series. While not surpassing the GBA trilogy or Symphony of the Night, its score is higher than many other Castlevania titles and comparable to acclaimed DLCs like Vampire Survivors' Ode to Castlevania and Dead Cells' Return to Castlevania.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse review - a fantastic action game, a less than stellar Metroidvania
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a new action game from Evil Empire and Motion Twin that offers stunning visuals and fluid combat, particularly with its unique whip-hook mechanic. However, the game struggles to balance its engaging action elements with its Metroidvania aspirations, leading to frustrating design choices and a feeling of internal conflict.
Recension – Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a strong return to the Metroidvania genre for the series, offering 20 hours of engaging gameplay. Developed by Evil Empire and Motion Twin, it features a vibrant art style inspired by the Netflix series, a dynamic soundtrack, and fluid combat mechanics. The game excels with its whip-based traversal and combat, rewarding exploration with new abilities and weapons, though finding the final secrets can be challenging.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Is The Series At Its Best
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is hailed as a new high for the series, synthesizing its best elements into a cohesive and fantastic experience. The game features a sprawling map, joyous traversal, a compelling story with creative characters, and exceptionally refined combat. The innovative tarot card system elegantly fuses disparate gameplay elements, serving as mission signposting, puzzles, lore, and spell progression.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review: Welcome back, Drac
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a highly acclaimed action-platformer that serves as a love letter to the franchise's lore and fans. Developed by Motion Twin and Evil Empire with Konami's support, the game features beautiful art, a compelling story with new characters like Rose Belmont, and deep gameplay systems. It is set to release on October 15, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review: "Gothic brilliance and cryptic clues mark a triumphant return for my favorite series of all-time"
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a visually stunning and challenging Metroidvania that honors the series' legacy with satisfying combat and intricate puzzles. While some aspects like boss location and the soundtrack are less impressive, the game offers a compelling narrative and accessible features for newcomers.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – 15 Things To Know Before You Jump In
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire, introduces Rose Belmont as the new protagonist investigating a resurrected Dracula in 1499 Paris. The game features a revamped whip mechanic for traversal and combat, seven weapon categories with unique perks, and an Arcana system where defeated bosses grant new abilities. The game promises a challenging yet fair experience with non-linear exploration and difficulty modifiers, and a demo is available with save data carrying over to the full release on October 15th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
