Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement trailer — Tokyo Game Show 2026 gameplay, 2027 release window and platforms
At Tokyo Game Show 2026, publisher 505 Games released a new gameplay trailer for Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, the long-awaited prequel to 2019’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
Developed by ArtPlay and produced by former Castlevania lead Koji “IGA” Igarashi, The Scarlet Engagement follows two young adventurers — Leonard Brandon of the Chapel’s Black Wolves and Alexander Kyteler of the White Stage Knights — as Church and State mount a joint assault on the Demon Lord Elias’s castle.
Trailer highlights and gameplay features
The trailer shown at Tokyo Game Show provides the most detailed look yet at The Scarlet Engagement’s systems and encounters.
Footage and publisher notes identify several gameplay elements now visible to players:
- Multiple new boss characters introduced in the prequel trailer.
- A day/night switching spell that changes environmental conditions.
- A mid-flight dragonback battle sequence showcased in extended combat footage.
- Environmental attacks and juggle combo mechanics demonstrated in combat scenes.
- A "buddy" combat system that allows the player to fight alongside both protagonists simultaneously.
- The return of a cooking mechanic carried over from Ritual of the Night.
Developer, producer and composer notes
ArtPlay remains the lead developer on the title with Koji Igarashi as producer.
Igarashi has stated that development is nearing completion.
The trailer’s music fits the series’ tone, but reporting around the trailer indicates that Michiru Yamane — the composer on Ritual of the Night — will not be returning for the prequel.
Visuals and reception
Visually, The Scarlet Engagement’s aesthetic appears consistent with Ritual of the Night, retaining the series’ established style.
That continuity was evident in the trailer and has been noted by coverage of the Tokyo Game Show demo.
Release window and platforms
505 Games lists Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement with a 2027 launch window.
The publisher confirms the game will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles and PC.
The title was previously delayed from an initial 2026 date and currently carries the broader 2027 timeframe.
What this means for players
For fans of Metroidvania design and Igarashi’s work, The Scarlet Engagement represents a direct continuation of the Bloodstained lineage and a return to the exploration-focused combat of Ritual of the Night.
With the Tokyo Game Show trailer revealing core systems and setpieces, the game is positioned as a major 2027 release for PS5, Xbox Series and PC audiences.
At Tokyo Game Show 2026, publisher 505 Games released a new gameplay trailer for Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, the long-awaited prequel to 2019’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
Developed by ArtPlay and produced by former Castlevania lead Koji “IGA” Igarashi, The Scarlet Engagement follows two young adventurers — Leonard Brandon of the Chapel’s Black Wolves and Alexander Kyteler of the White Stage Knights — as Church and State mount a joint assault on the Demon Lord Elias’s castle.
Trailer highlights and gameplay features
The trailer shown at Tokyo Game Show provides the most detailed look yet at The Scarlet Engagement’s systems and encounters.
Footage and publisher notes identify several gameplay elements now visible to players:
- Multiple new boss characters introduced in the prequel trailer.
- A day/night switching spell that changes environmental conditions.
- A mid-flight dragonback battle sequence showcased in extended combat footage.
- Environmental attacks and juggle combo mechanics demonstrated in combat scenes.
- A "buddy" combat system that allows the player to fight alongside both protagonists simultaneously.
- The return of a cooking mechanic carried over from Ritual of the Night.
Developer, producer and composer notes
ArtPlay remains the lead developer on the title with Koji Igarashi as producer.
Igarashi has stated that development is nearing completion.
The trailer’s music fits the series’ tone, but reporting around the trailer indicates that Michiru Yamane — the composer on Ritual of the Night — will not be returning for the prequel.
Visuals and reception
Visually, The Scarlet Engagement’s aesthetic appears consistent with Ritual of the Night, retaining the series’ established style.
That continuity was evident in the trailer and has been noted by coverage of the Tokyo Game Show demo.
Release window and platforms
505 Games lists Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement with a 2027 launch window.
The publisher confirms the game will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles and PC.
The title was previously delayed from an initial 2026 date and currently carries the broader 2027 timeframe.
What this means for players
For fans of Metroidvania design and Igarashi’s work, The Scarlet Engagement represents a direct continuation of the Bloodstained lineage and a return to the exploration-focused combat of Ritual of the Night.
With the Tokyo Game Show trailer revealing core systems and setpieces, the game is positioned as a major 2027 release for PS5, Xbox Series and PC audiences.
