Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, the acclaimed Metroidvania developed by ArtPlay and published by 505 Games, made a powerful impact on the gaming world following its release in 2019 on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch.
Praised for its engaging gameplay and spiritual ties to the Castlevania legacy, the title met with critical and commercial success, leading to the highly anticipated development of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2.
Five years since the original’s launch, fans have eagerly tracked the progress of the sequel, which has been steadily developed by much of the same core team responsible for the first game's success. However, recent news has significantly impacted the project’s leadership.
Shutaro Ida, the director of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and a key creative force behind the Nintendo DS Castlevania games, announced via social media on October 1, 2024, that he has been diagnosed with cancer.
As a result of his diagnosis and need for treatment, Ida confirmed that he will be stepping away from his direct development role on Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2.
The decision was communicated to the public in a heartfelt post, wherein project supervisor Koji Igarashi acknowledged Ida’s foundational contributions to both the DS Castlevania series and Bloodstained's success. "For both the DS Castlevania series and Bloodstained, development has essentially revolved around Director Shutaro," Igarashi stated.
"Truly, these works could be seen as his own.
While it is a significant loss for the project to have him step back, we will do our utmost not to be deterred by this setback.
We hope for his full recovery and look forward to working together again in the future." Despite this setback, development of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2 is forging ahead with the rest of the experienced team intact.
The original game, which remains available on the Nintendo Switch eShop and other leading platforms, has amassed a dedicated following for its blend of classic exploration, tight gameplay mechanics, and imaginative design.
ArtPlay’s production continues to build upon these strengths for the sequel, ensuring the franchise’s legacy endures on current-generation hardware. Since its debut, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has stood out for its successful Kickstarter campaign, surpassing funding goals and achieving multi-million unit sales across the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
ArtPlay, under Koji Igarashi’s supervision, has cemented its status as a leader in revivalist gothic action games, a category beloved by veterans and new fans of the genre alike. Fans can look forward to more updates regarding Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2 as it advances in development, continuing the innovative spirit that has defined the series.
In the meantime, the gaming community sends its best wishes to Shutaro Ida for a swift and complete recovery.
Praised for its engaging gameplay and spiritual ties to the Castlevania legacy, the title met with critical and commercial success, leading to the highly anticipated development of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2.
Five years since the original’s launch, fans have eagerly tracked the progress of the sequel, which has been steadily developed by much of the same core team responsible for the first game's success. However, recent news has significantly impacted the project’s leadership.
Shutaro Ida, the director of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and a key creative force behind the Nintendo DS Castlevania games, announced via social media on October 1, 2024, that he has been diagnosed with cancer.
As a result of his diagnosis and need for treatment, Ida confirmed that he will be stepping away from his direct development role on Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2.
The decision was communicated to the public in a heartfelt post, wherein project supervisor Koji Igarashi acknowledged Ida’s foundational contributions to both the DS Castlevania series and Bloodstained's success. "For both the DS Castlevania series and Bloodstained, development has essentially revolved around Director Shutaro," Igarashi stated.
"Truly, these works could be seen as his own.
While it is a significant loss for the project to have him step back, we will do our utmost not to be deterred by this setback.
We hope for his full recovery and look forward to working together again in the future." Despite this setback, development of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2 is forging ahead with the rest of the experienced team intact.
The original game, which remains available on the Nintendo Switch eShop and other leading platforms, has amassed a dedicated following for its blend of classic exploration, tight gameplay mechanics, and imaginative design.
ArtPlay’s production continues to build upon these strengths for the sequel, ensuring the franchise’s legacy endures on current-generation hardware. Since its debut, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has stood out for its successful Kickstarter campaign, surpassing funding goals and achieving multi-million unit sales across the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
ArtPlay, under Koji Igarashi’s supervision, has cemented its status as a leader in revivalist gothic action games, a category beloved by veterans and new fans of the genre alike. Fans can look forward to more updates regarding Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 2 as it advances in development, continuing the innovative spirit that has defined the series.
In the meantime, the gaming community sends its best wishes to Shutaro Ida for a swift and complete recovery.
