The developers behind Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse have detailed why they decided against using generative AI, emphasizing human craftsmanship, creator intent, and team development.
Speaking during a press interview at gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Evil Empire Marketing Director Bérenger Dupré, Lead Game Designer Sandro Bordier, and Konami Producer Isao Taniguchi discussed the design philosophy behind the upcoming 2D action-exploration entry.
When asked about the explicit decision to refrain from using generative AI, Dupré outlined two primary considerations:
“There are two main reasons,” Dupré explained. “First, we wanted to respect the creator’s intentions and expression. Because this is the first new Castlevania game in a long time, we felt that we had to pour our souls and deep love into it with human hands, rather than relying on AI.”
Dupré further explained that the choice was closely tied to internal studio growth following the transition after Dead Cells. A new development team was formed for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, and Evil Empire viewed the project as a vital learning opportunity.
“The second reason is for the team’s growth,” Dupré said. “We decided that the challenge we should present at this time was not ‘learning how to efficiently use AI,’ but rather getting our hands dirty, experimenting together as creators, and learning the essence of game development together.”
The project originated through a mutual desire to collaborate. Konami Producer Isao Taniguchi, a 12-year veteran at the company and longtime series fan, noted that he wanted to reach audiences who knew the franchise through animated series or collaborations (such as Dead by Daylight and Vampire Survivors) but had not yet played a main entry.
When seeking a developer capable of delivering top-tier 2D action controls, Evil Empire was at the top of Konami’s list. Simultaneously, Evil Empire approached Konami to request creating the Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC (2023). Konami agreed to the DLC while proposing that Evil Empire also develop a brand-new, standalone Castlevania game.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is currently being developed by Evil Empire and Motion Twin in partnership with Konami. The game is playable for attendees on the gamescom 2026 show floor.
