Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Skips Switch 2, Ex-Nintendo PR Boss Baffled

Did you pick up a Switch 2 expecting all the big new games to land on it? Well, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is here, but there's a catch: it's only on the original Switch. No dedicated Switch 2 version. And that's got even a former Nintendo marketing boss scratching his head.

Kit Ellis, who used to be a senior PR manager at Nintendo of America, shared his confusion in a video on social media. "If you're a Castlevania fan who mostly plays on Nintendo Switch 2, I wouldn't blame you for having some mixed feelings on Castlevania: Belmont's Curse," he says. "The way Konami has handled this game has been a little weird." He adds: "The game isn't even coming out on Switch 2. I mean, you can play it on a Switch 2, but this is a Switch 1 game that Konami is releasing. There is no dedicated Switch 2 version."

It's a strange move, especially since the Switch 2 has been out for over a year. That's plenty of time for Konami to optimize the game for the newer console. Maybe the company figured the 2.5D visuals ran well enough on the base Switch that no current-gen upgrades were needed. But still, you'd think a dedicated version would be a no-brainer.

As for the game itself, it looks, sounds, and plays like Symphony of the Night—a side-scrolling action-adventure through layers of ghouls and ghosts to defeat Dracula once again. It's a fitting return to the style that popularized the Metroidvania genre. Ellis points out that based on the demo, the game runs at 60 frames-per-second on Switch 2, which is nice, though the resolution leaves something to be desired. "It does look a little blocky, a little bit chunky when you're playing it on a Switch 2," he says. "But I guess it's better than nothing."

Given that Castlevania's early days were on the NES and SNES, creating a natural synergy between the franchise and Nintendo, Ellis is befuddled by the choice. "It kind of feels like Konami's not completely following through with the game here," he adds. And honestly, I have to agree—even though I'm still excited to jump in on October 15.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse was born out of "a sense of urgency," according to its producer, who also said that if we have to wait 10 years for the next game, "the whole thing is meaningless." So maybe Konami is just trying to get this one out the door as fast as possible. But skipping Switch 2 still feels like a missed opportunity.

What do you think? Are you bummed that Belmont's Curse isn't getting a proper Switch 2 release, or are you just happy to play it on your original Switch? Let us know in the comments!