Konami Celebrates Castlevania’s 40th Anniversary With a Free Game, Big Discounts, and Possible Collection Tease
Castlevania is nearing a major milestone, and Konami is marking the franchise’s 40th anniversary with several treats for longtime fans and newcomers alike. The celebration includes a free mobile release of the original game, major discounts on multiple Castlevania titles and collections, and what may be a subtle hint at a future 3D Castlevania collection.
With Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse set to launch in just over three weeks, the timing could not be better for fans of the legendary gothic action series.
The original Castlevania is free on Android and iOS until October 24
The very first Castlevania launched for the Famicom Disk System on September 26, 1986, beginning one of gaming’s most iconic vampire-hunting sagas. To celebrate the anniversary, Konami has released a free mobile version of the original game under the title Castlevania 40th Anniversary.
The game is available now on Android and iOS, but only for a limited time. Players have until October 24 to claim it. After that date, the app will be removed from both major mobile stores.
There is some good news for anyone who grabs it before the deadline: once claimed, the game can be reinstalled later, even after it is delisted. That makes this a must-download for Castlevania fans who want to keep a piece of the series’ history in their library.
Castlevania sale brings major discounts to PlayStation and PC
Konami is also celebrating with a large Castlevania sale across PlayStation Store and Steam. Several classic collections and modern entries are heavily discounted, making this a strong opportunity to catch up on the franchise before Belmont’s Curse arrives.
The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is available at 80% off, while the Castlevania Dominus Collection is 50% off. The Castlevania Advance Collection is discounted by 70%, offering a great way to experience some of the series’ beloved handheld-era entries.
On PlayStation Store, Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood is available at 70% off. Meanwhile, Steam users can find deep discounts on the Lords of Shadow series, including Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition at 80% off, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Digital Bundle at 80% off, the Revelations DLC at 80% off, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD at 80% off.
The Steam sale ends on October 1, while the PlayStation Store promotion continues until October 7.
Konami may be teasing a new 3D Castlevania collection
Alongside the anniversary celebration, Konami released a trailer highlighting the history of the Castlevania series. While the video begins with artwork from the upcoming Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, it also features imagery from several notable 3D entries.
The trailer showcases Castlevania: Lament of Innocence from 2003, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness from 2005, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow from 2010. This has led to speculation that Konami may be preparing a new collection focused on the franchise’s 3D action games.
At the moment, Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness are not officially available on modern platforms, while Lords of Shadow is available on PC. A collection featuring these titles would fit Konami’s recent strategy of bringing older Castlevania games to current systems.
A modern re-release would also give newer players a chance to experience a very different era of Castlevania history. While the series is best known for its 2D action, exploration, gothic atmosphere, and unforgettable music, its 3D entries have built their own following over the years.
Fans are still waiting for Symphony of the Night on PC
One of the biggest requests from the Castlevania community remains an official PC release of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Widely considered one of the greatest entries in the series, Symphony of the Night helped define the “Metroidvania” style and remains a fan favorite decades after launch.
Although the game is available through certain console releases, a dedicated PC version is still missing. If Konami is continuing to expand access to the franchise’s back catalog, many players will be hoping Symphony of the Night eventually receives a wider release.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse demo arrives October 1
The anniversary celebration also leads directly into the next major Castlevania release. A demo for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse will be available starting October 1 on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Even better, progress from the demo will carry over to the full game for players who decide to purchase it. That should make the demo an easy choice for anyone curious about the newest chapter in the series.
Between the free mobile version of the original Castlevania, major discounts on classic collections, renewed attention on the 3D games, and the upcoming Belmont’s Curse demo, Konami is giving fans plenty of reasons to return to Dracula’s castle. For a franchise approaching 40 years of monster-slaying history, Castlevania still has plenty of life left in the night.
