505 Games and ArtPlay have released a new gameplay trailer for Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, giving us our most extensive look yet at the upcoming prequel to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
The new footage made its debut during the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 Broadcast and shows protagonists Leo and Alex making their way through the game’s rather familiar-looking gothic world. The Scarlet Engagement is currently scheduled for release in 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
That 2027 date is a relatively recent change. The Scarlet Engagement was originally scheduled for 2026, but producer Koji Igarashi announced in August that development had entered its final stages and that the team had decided to move the release into next year. At the time, IGA also promised that new gameplay footage would follow soon. Consider that promise fulfilled.
Leo and Alex enter the castle
Set in 16th-century England, The Scarlet Engagement takes place before the events of Ritual of the Night and explores an earlier chapter of the Bloodstained universe. A mysterious floating castle controlled by Demon Lord Elias has appeared over the land, unleashing demonic forces on the population.
After several failed attempts by the Kingdom and Church to deal with the threat, Leonard Brandon of the Church’s Black Wolves and Alexander Kyteler of the Kingdom’s White Stags are brought together to take on Elias.
The new trailer puts considerably more focus on what that partnership means in practice. The game’s Buddy System allows players to control Leo and Alex together, using the pair during combat, exploration and environmental challenges. The footage also gives us another look at the new Epiphany combat system, through which new moves and abilities can be discovered during battle.
Bloodstained gets bigger
ArtPlay is promising the largest map in the Bloodstained series so far, complete with a day and night cycle that can affect both the world and how players interact with it. Crafting and cooking also return, while equipment can visibly alter the appearance of the characters.
Visually, however, this is still very much Bloodstained. The 2.5D presentation, gothic architecture, oversized monsters and exploration-heavy action shown in the trailer leave little doubt about its lineage. With Koji Igarashi producing, The Scarlet Engagement continues the style of exploration-driven action RPG that he helped establish long before Bloodstained existed.
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement is scheduled for release in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. No exact release date has been announced yet.
Watch the new gameplay trailer below.
