Konami has launched an official site marking Castlevania’s 40th anniversary, and recent social-media posts have circulated claims about featured artwork being newly produced by longtime Castlevania illustrator Ayami Kojima.
Those claims are inaccurate: the image in question originates from 2019 and was created by Kojima for Konami’s mobile title Grimoire of Souls.
Castlevania traces its origins to 1986, when Akumajō Dracula (Castlevania) debuted on the Famicom Disk System on September 26, 1986.
Over four decades the franchise has spanned home consoles, handhelds and mobile devices.
Kojima’s signature gothic illustrations are widely associated with landmark entries such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PlayStation, 1997), Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Game Boy Advance, 2003) and Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PlayStation 2, 2003), and her style remains central to the series’ visual identity.
The artwork reposted on Konami’s anniversary site first appeared as part of Kojima’s material for Grimoire of Souls, released in 2019 in a limited capacity.
Konami has also reused elements of the piece in other official materials, including packaging and promotional imagery for the Castlevania Advance Collection, which launched in May 2021 on modern platforms including Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop.
A Konami representative has cautioned against the spread of unverified claims, stating in plain terms that the company does not want misleading information to circulate among fans and media.
That clarification helps separate new anniversary content from previously released assets.
What is verifiable: Kojima’s credited work on major series entries dating to the 1990s and 2000s, the franchise’s original 1986 release date, the 40th-anniversary site launched by Konami, and the use of the 2019 artwork in earlier Konami projects including Grimoire of Souls and promotional materials tied to Castlevania collections.
The Castlevania Advance Collection remains available on Nintendo Switch and other platforms, giving players access to several classic titles in the series.
As Konami commemorates four decades of Castlevania, official channels remain the primary source for announcements and new assets.
Fans seeking confirmation about artwork authorship or new releases should consult Konami’s site and verified corporate communications to avoid conflating legacy assets with newly commissioned material.
Those claims are inaccurate: the image in question originates from 2019 and was created by Kojima for Konami’s mobile title Grimoire of Souls.
Castlevania traces its origins to 1986, when Akumajō Dracula (Castlevania) debuted on the Famicom Disk System on September 26, 1986.
Over four decades the franchise has spanned home consoles, handhelds and mobile devices.
Kojima’s signature gothic illustrations are widely associated with landmark entries such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PlayStation, 1997), Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Game Boy Advance, 2003) and Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PlayStation 2, 2003), and her style remains central to the series’ visual identity.
The artwork reposted on Konami’s anniversary site first appeared as part of Kojima’s material for Grimoire of Souls, released in 2019 in a limited capacity.
Konami has also reused elements of the piece in other official materials, including packaging and promotional imagery for the Castlevania Advance Collection, which launched in May 2021 on modern platforms including Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop.
A Konami representative has cautioned against the spread of unverified claims, stating in plain terms that the company does not want misleading information to circulate among fans and media.
That clarification helps separate new anniversary content from previously released assets.
What is verifiable: Kojima’s credited work on major series entries dating to the 1990s and 2000s, the franchise’s original 1986 release date, the 40th-anniversary site launched by Konami, and the use of the 2019 artwork in earlier Konami projects including Grimoire of Souls and promotional materials tied to Castlevania collections.
The Castlevania Advance Collection remains available on Nintendo Switch and other platforms, giving players access to several classic titles in the series.
As Konami commemorates four decades of Castlevania, official channels remain the primary source for announcements and new assets.
Fans seeking confirmation about artwork authorship or new releases should consult Konami’s site and verified corporate communications to avoid conflating legacy assets with newly commissioned material.
