Thursday, 27 August 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication
← all stories games 5 sources · 1h ago ·

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement Delayed to 2027

The delay comes despite Igarashi's statement that development is already in its final stretch, and the team has promised to share more information than ever before during the wait, including new screenshots and upcoming gameplay footage.

Key Facts

  • Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement was delayed from a 2026 release window to 2027, announced on August 26, 2026.
  • Koji Igarashi, co-founder and representative director of ArtPlay, announced the delay in a video message and said development is in its final stretch.
  • The game is set several years before Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and features a two-player Buddy System.
  • Four new screenshots were released with the announcement, and gameplay footage is expected to be shown soon.
  • Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement targets PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, including Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Reporting from 5 sources: Anime News Network, 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, GameBusiness.jp, and 1 more.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement Delayed to 2027

ArtPlay and 505 Games announced on August 26 that Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, the latest entry in the Bloodstained series, has been delayed from its planned 2026 release window to 2027. Koji Igarashi, co-founder and representative director of ArtPlay, delivered the news in a video message, stating that development has entered its final stretch. He apologized to fans for the date change and said the entire production staff is working hard to deliver a better product. The game is a 2.5D gothic horror action RPG set in 16th-century England, several years before Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Players control Leonardo Brandon of the church's Black Wolf Brigade and Alexander Kitella of the White Deer Brigade as they fight the Demon King Elias, who rules a castle that appeared in the sky. The game features a two-player Buddy System, a day-night cycle across the series' largest map, and mechanics including Flash Arts, crafting, cooking, and equipment customization. Alongside the announcement, four new screenshots were released showing combat, a giant blade attack, erupting flames, and underground exploration. Gameplay footage is expected to be shown soon. The game targets PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

  • 505 Games Japan made the announcement on August 26, not ArtPlay, and it came through the game's official global X account as well as a video message from Igarashi.
  • The game was first revealed at the State of Play 2025.6.5 digital event on June 5, 2025, with an initial release window of within 2026.
  • Igarashi, also known as IGA, is credited as both representative director and producer of ArtPlay, and is described as being at the core of development.
  • The demon king Elias rules the "Castle of No Form," which is the largest map in series history and changes over time with morning, daytime, evening, and night cycles.
  • Leonardo Brandon belongs to the church's combat group "Black Wolf Brigade," while Alexander Kitella is a survivor of the kingdom's knight order "White Deer Brigade."
  • The Buddy System lets two players cooperate to take on enemies and traps together.
  • Combat style changes come through skill combinations and combined techniques, alongside Flash Arts, crafting, cooking, and equipment customization.
  • The PC version is available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.
  • The official X account said it will introduce more information about the game before its 2027 release, thanked fans for their patience, and said future updates will be posted on official social media.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 5 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement ArtPlay Koji Igarashi

More on this

Sources