The latest crossover inBehaviour Interactive’s multiplayer survival game, which sees the introduction of Castlevania’s iconic duo – Dracula and Trevor Belmont – is now available for playtesting on Steam’s public test build. Castlevania’s next chapter will officially unfold on August 1st. 27, Behaviour introduced Tuesday.
Bram Stoker’s iconic novel shouldn’t be solely credited with introducing the concept of a shape-shifting killer, as Dracula is arguably the first vampire in Western literature, not just in survival games? In the Revenant form, Dracula can summon flames to scorch his victims; as a vampire, he can move undetected among Survivors, striking from the shadows. As a bat, he can silently stalk his prey, swooping down to snatch unsuspecting Survivors on the forest floor. In his quest to track down unsuspecting survivors, Dracula has been known to assume the form of a cunning wolf, utilizing its acute sense of smell to locate his next victim.
What a bold move, Dracula! He’s prepared to transplant his entire crumbling fortress to the new location. Whenever Dracula takes center stage as the main antagonist in a reimagined setting on an historically accurate backdrop, players are greeted by the unmistakable silhouette of his foreboding castle dominating the landscape. (Which means you gained’t see Drac’s digs on licensed maps like those set in Dungeons & Dragons’ Forgotten Ruins or ’s Nostromo wreckage.)
On the flip side of its innovative asymmetric multiplayer format lies the newly introduced character, Trevor Belmont, a fresh addition to the Survivor roster. Trevor’s abilities are characterized by his natural aptitude for forming alliances and working collaboratively, while also possessing unmatched expertise as a vampire hunter. Introduced in 1989’s Castlevania, Trevor has since become a stalwart presence in the franchise, appearing in multiple video games throughout the series.
Konami’s latest partnership is just one example of a recent trend, wherein the company lends its iconic characters and intellectual property to video games inspired by its most beloved franchises. The Castlevania series has released downloadable content (DLC) for its action role-playing survival game and action roguelike title. Contra: Rogue Corps’ downloadable content (DLC), titled Contra: Ultimate Powers, was released relatively recently. In 2020, Konami’s iconic Silent Hill franchise made its debut in, as Heather Mason and Pyramid Head joined forces with the existing roster of playable Survivors and Killers.
The game is now available to play on a range of platforms, including Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
