Konami is marking forty years of Castlevania by releasing a free mobile port of the original 1986 game on iOS and Android devices, alongside deep franchise discounts across digital storefronts ahead of next month’s launch of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
The classic vampire hunting franchise first debuted on the Famicom Disk System on September 26, 1986, introducing players to Simon Belmont and his iconic battle against Count Dracula. To celebrate this milestone, the publisher has rolled out a retro-styled app titled Castlevania 40th Anniversary for mobile platforms. The release preserves the original 2D aesthetic while putting the foundational title directly into players’ hands.
Free Mobile App Availability and Deadlines
The commemorative mobile release serves up the exact retro experience that started the series. The software’s listing explains that users step into the role of Simon Belmont—a descendant of an iconic vampire hunter—who must infiltrate Count Dracula’s fortress to eliminate him after his unexpected return a century after Simon’s forebear initially defeated him.
There is a strict window for grabbing the software. The application will remain free to download until October 24, 2026, after which it will be permanently removed from mobile app stores. Anyone who claims the software before that cutoff date retains access to it, by which time you might be sinking your teeth into Belmont’s Curse anyway.
PlayStation and Steam Store Discounts
Alongside the mobile giveaway, Konami launched wide-ranging price cuts across digital storefronts, saving around one hundred dollars for players looking to catch up on the 23 installments released since the franchise began. The sales vary by platform and expire on different dates.
The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is currently discounted by 80 percent on the PlayStation Store through October 7, alongside the Dominus Collection at 50 percent off, while both the Advance Collection and the Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood bundle see 70 percent reductions. Regarding Steam promotions active from September 24 through October 1, the Anniversary Collection is again marked down by 80 percent, the Dominus Collection by 50 percent, and the Advance Collection by 70 percent, with the Lords of Shadow catalog—encompassing the Ultimate Edition, the Lords of Shadow 2 digital bundle along with its Revelations DLC, and Mirror of Fate HD—all receiving 80 percent discounts.
Steam discounts run from September 24 to October 1, while PlayStation Store price cuts extend until October 7.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Demo and Release Timeline
The anniversary festivities coincide with the buildup to Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, slated to release on October 15, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The new mainline entry arrives as a Day One release on Xbox Game Pass.
Set for a 1499 timeframe, the forthcoming title stems from Evil Empire—acclaimed for Dead Cells and the similarly styled Rogue Prince of Persia—and centers on Rose, the daughter of Trevor Belmont from Castlevania 3, as she battles her way through Paris and Dracula’s domain armed with the Vampire Killer whip. A playable demo drops on October 1, coming to Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, allowing players to play through the entire first chapter. Any progress made in the demo carries over to the full release on the 15th October, which targets 60 frames per second across all platforms except for the Switch, which runs at 30 frames per second.
Early hands-on previews of the upcoming game suggest it leans into its roots rather than rewriting the formula.
“There’s nothing to say it has to reinvent the wheel,” we wrote. “If ever there was a series that has earned the right to deliver a game that simply offers a familiar but solid Metroidvania adventure, it’s the one that co-coined the term in the first place. And so far, based on the first hour at least, familiar but solid absolutely sums it up.”
VGC
Beyond the new game and retro sales, a Castlevania 40th Anniversary orchestral concert is planned for spring 2027 in London, Tokyo and Los Angeles, while the soundtrack to Castlevania: Black & Red is now available on most major streaming platforms.