Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement—ArtPlay's Next Evolution Guided by Koji Igarashi and Shutaro Iida

Since his departure from Konami in 2014, acclaimed game producer Koji 'IGA' Igarashi has dedicated his expertise to developing fresh Metroidvania experiences at his own studio, ArtPlay.

With the launch of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Igarashi successfully positioned the Bloodstained series as the spiritual successor to the gothic, exploration-driven action of Castlevania.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night garnered both critical acclaim and robust sales, further solidifying ArtPlay’s reputation with spin-off titles like Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon and its sequel. Fans of the genre have reason to celebrate once again, as Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement has been officially announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

This latest entry introduces a pair of new protagonists, Leo and Alex, and incorporates the signature feature of swapping between these heroes at the touch of a button—a concept reminiscent of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.

This deliberate nod underscores the series’ commitment to honoring its roots while forging new ground. A key creative force behind The Scarlet Engagement is Shutaro Iida, who, in addition to serving as designer and director of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, played pivotal roles in the development of several Castlevania titles during his time at Konami, including Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia, Dawn of Sorrow, Aria of Sorrow, and Lament of Innocence.

Iida’s influence, particularly on the Nintendo DS Castlevania titles, is widely respected among franchise aficionados.

In the upcoming Bloodstained sequel, his vision as Creative Director takes even greater precedence. In a recent interview with Epic Games, Iida described his approach to game design as reformist, emphasizing his drive to continuously introduce new gameplay ideas and systems into each release.

"With each project, I strive to implement something innovative.

I don’t want to repeat myself or play it safe.

While the games remain true to the Metroidvania genre, I believe it’s crucial to keep things fresh—be it with changing characters or overhauling core mechanics," Iida explained.

He credited this philosophy for the significant shifts seen between the DS installments and expressed excitement over being given the freedom to innovate further in The Scarlet Engagement. Igarashi, meanwhile, highlighted Iida’s central role in the project, noting how every title directed by Iida has met with strong positive feedback from fans and critics alike.

"Shutaro is deeply involved as Creative Director on The Scarlet Engagement, even more so than with previous projects.

I am confident that his vision and dedication will make this game our best yet," Igarashi told Epic Games. Despite his significant creative involvement, Iida is currently facing significant personal challenges following a cancer diagnosis revealed in October of last year.

In statements shared via social media, Iida acknowledged the difficulty of balancing his health battles with his professional responsibilities, stating he would be sharing some development duties to focus on recovery.

He recently underwent a major 12-hour surgery and continues to persevere, expressing thanks for the support he’s received and his determination to remain involved with Bloodstained’s future. The continued collaboration between Koji Igarashi and Shutaro Iida is poised to deliver another standout Metroidvania experience with Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, building upon a rich legacy on platforms such as Nintendo Switch and beyond.

As fans eagerly await more details—including release windows and additional gameplay features—one thing is certain: the genre remains in dedicated, creative hands.

PS5 PC Xbox Series X Xbox Castlevania Xbox Series X|S Xbox Series Metroidvania Koji Igarashi X S Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement ArtPlay Shutaro Iida Nintendo Switch Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon