Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night studio ArtPlay's next game is Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, a prequel to the Metroidvania-style side-scrolling action RPG.
The Scarlet Engagement was announced at tonight's PlayStation State of Play live show. It's coming to PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC (Steam and Epic) in 2026.
"Set in the iconic, gothic world created for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, this newest installment in the Bloodstained saga brings the rich gameplay and storytelling of its predecessor to all new heights," says publisher 505 games in a PlayStation Blog post. The trailer blurb adds that the game takes place "years before" the events of Ritual of the Night.
The prequel stars two main characters, Leonard Brandon and Alexander Kyteler, who are technically controlled "at the same time. "One will be under your direct control, while your companion assists in combat. You’re able to switch between the two at the press of a button."
You can also customize both heroes with armor, weapons, and other equipment. "Every wearable piece of armor and clothing item in the game will have its own unique stats and appearance," the announcement post adds.
If you're wondering about all the action RPG talk, you can rest assured that this is very much an exploration-driven game. "Exploration is a hallmark of Bloodstained, and in The Scarlet Engagement, exploration will reward you with powerful relics and resources," 505 Games says.
The game's newly minted Steam page also describes a day and night cycle that uses light and darkness to change "not only the gameplay, but also the way you interact with the world."
"The set piece of The Scarlet Engagement is the Ethereal Castle, the largest and deadliest Bloodstained map to date," the post adds, confirming we are indeed exploring another castle in this proudly Castlevania-coded game.
