February2022
Soapbox Dear Konami, Please Do Something Decent With Castlevania
Fangs very much
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Damien laments the fact that we've not had a 'proper' new Castlevania game since 2014... Those of you who have visited this site regularly over the past decade or so might be aware...
News Konami Is Committed To NFTs In Order To Preserve Beloved Content As "Commemorative Art"
Follows a sale of Castlevania-related NFTs
Konami caught a bit of flak for marking Castlevania's 35th birthday with a sale of NFTs based on the series, and it seems that the negative press surrounding the technology hasn't put the company off. In its latest financial results breakdown, Konami addresses the topic of NFTs in its 'Digital...
January2022
News Konami Boasts Of Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Passing 4 Million Downloads In A Week
It's flying high on Steam, in particular
Just over a week ago Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel arrived on pretty much all current systems - including Switch - and is also rolling out on mobile. The free-to-play card deck-builder is obviously a significant release for long term fans of the franchise, and the chance to start at no cost can also tempt in a lot of...
Guide Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Best Meta Decks Starter Guide - Crafting And CP Explained
The cards are in your hand – now here’s what to do with them
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is a complex game that throws you into the arena with barely a word of advice and a pocketful of cards you might not even know what to do with. The game has changed much since it’s debut in the late 1990s, and while there’s much to learn in Master Duel, there...
News Surprise! Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Is Now Available On The Switch eShop
The free-to-play card game has arrived
Well, here's some exciting news we certainly weren't expecting today. Konami has released its new free-to-play card game, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel on all platforms including the Nintendo Switch. Yes, it's time to duel! Konami yesterday teased it had one more surprise, and it seems this is it - the launch of this...
News Konami's New Yu-Gi-Oh! Video Game Unveils Its Digital Shop
One other final feature will be showcased tomorrow
Konami has shared a new video of its upcoming free-to-play title Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel - scheduled to arrive on the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms in the near future. It was recently confirmed the game would be receiving cross-platform play and cross-save support, and now we've got a...
News Konami Sold This Castlevania Pixel Art For Over $26K In Its 'Memorial' NFT Auction
What a bargain...
Whether you love or hate NFTs in gaming, it seems some companies are intent on monopolising on this new trend. One, in particular, is Konami, who decided to celebrate Castlevania's 35th anniversary with a special 'Konami NFT Memorial Collection' auction. It's now sold off all '14 unique artworks" which consisted of game scenes,...
News Konami Is 'Celebrating' Castlevania's 35th With An NFT Auction
"KONAMI will continue to explore new developments" in NFT and blockchain, too
This year, Konami's Castlevania series turns 35, which might fill you with the hope that the Japanese veteran has plans to release a new game or a special collection of past titles. However, we're sad to report that – for now, at least – Konami's celebrations consist...
December2021
Feature Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, Or That Time Mario Got Movin’ To Mozart
The funky rhythm comin’ at ya!
On the surface Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix appears to be the ordinary and obvious by-product of Konami and Nintendo continuing to operate in the same creative space. After all, by the time of the game’s 2005 release, Mario had already been doing non-Mario things for a very long time — he could paint, ride...
News Xexex, One Of Konami's Greatest Shmups, Is Coming To Switch This Week
The Arcade Archives range expands again
Hamster has done a fantastic job in bringing a host of cult arcade games to home systems of late, and it's continuing the trend with the cult classic Xexex (pronounced "Zekseks"), which joins the Arcade Archives range next week. Originally released in 1991 and powered by hardware that was far more advanced...
News Konami's New Yu-Gi-Oh! Game Has Cross-Play And Cross-Save Support
It's almost time to duel!
Konami's upcoming free-to-play title Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel - scheduled to arrive on the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms this winter - will include cross-platform play and cross-save support. Not only will you be able to take on opponents on different platforms, but you'll also be able to link your "Master...
November2021
News Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D To Be Temporarily Removed From The 3DS eShop
Konami has to renew some licenses
If you were planning to pick up Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D from the 3DS eShop any time soon, you might have to wait. Konami has had to remove 12 different versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 from multiple digital storefronts - this includes the Nintendo 3DS eShop, due to license renewels...
October2021
News Four More Classic Shmups Confirmed For Switch, Including Konami's Cult Hit, Xexex
Shooter shower!
Hamster – the Japanese company behind the excellent Arcade Archives series – has announced at the Tokyo Game Show that it is bringing four classic shmups to Switch, including Konami's Xexex. Released in 1991, Xexex is held in very high regard by fans of the genre, and sadly never got a domestic port at the time of release (it...
News Konami Competition Tasks Indie Devs With Reviving Its Classic IP
Konami will fund and publish the winner's creation
Konami is currently hosting a Japanese indie game contest (in cooperation with Shueisha Game Creators Camp), asking small team developers to create action and shooting games based on its classic IP. The winner scores 2 million yen (about $18,000 USD) and will be given the opportunity to...
Rumour Konami Reportedly Reviving Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, And Silent Hill
The game giant pivots back to... games
For a few years now, Konami has been pretty quiet on the premium games front, preferring to focus on their presumably lucrative pachinko content instead. Back in 2015, it all blew up spectacularly with the cancellation of Silent Hills, the removal of spooky and beloved teaser
September2021
News Konami Celebrates Castlevania's 35th With A 26-Disc Music Collection That Costs $250
What music they make!
This year marks Castlevania's 35th birthday, and Konami is celebrating the occasion with a lavish 26-disc music collection. The catch? It's exclusive to Japan at present and costs an eye-watering 28,600 Yen ($256 / £190). Comprised of two volumes that span the aforementioned 26 CDs, the collection launches on the 15th of...
News Want A New Castlevania Game? You Need To Make Yourself Heard, Says Konami Director
"I think it depends on what our users say"
Konami's Castlevania series currently has a level of public awareness that is perhaps unprecedented in the franchise's 35-year history. Netflix's popular animated series has given Castlevania a legion of new fans, while re-releases such as Castlevania Advance Collection
News Castlevania Advance Collection Is Out Today On Nintendo Switch eShop
A lovely 'out now' Nintendo Direct moment
It's not exactly been a secret, courtesy of multiple rating listings, early retail pages and the appearance of official art, but Castlevania Advance Collection is indeed coming to Switch eShop. In fact, it may on the eShop by the time you read these words, as it's one of those lovely 'out shortly after the...
News Castlevania Advance Collection Gets Updated Rating In Taiwan, Dracula X A Surprise Addition
Update: Official artwork also spotted
Update: As if it wasn't obvious enough already, the listing for Castlevania Advance Collection spotted in Taiwan now has official artwork associated with it (thanks, Gematsu), as well as more details on what games are included. The newly published description confirms that Castlevania: Circle of the Moon...
News Hand-Drawn Game Guide Kickstarter Taken Down Following "Legal Trouble"
Update #2: "We did not receive a cease and desist"
Cor, look at 'em Update #2: Phillip Summers has taken to Twitter to clarify some reporting around the cancellation of the Hand-Drawn Game Guide Kickstarter campaign. He states that "the party involved has been polite and I'm hopeful something can get worked out. They have every right to act as they...
Random Even The Mega Drive Might Get Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night Before Switch
"It is not by my hand that I am once again given flesh"
We've made no secret of the fact that we really want to see Castlevania: Symphony of the Night come to Switch. It's arguably one of the greatest games ever made, and, alongside Super Metroid, is one of the true innovators of the 'Metroidva
Talking Point It's A Golden Era For Video Game Music Fans, So How Do You Listen?
When you're not playing the games, obvs
Being a fan of Nintendo-based video game music has historically been pretty tough. Older aural aficionados would cling tightly to their Killer Cuts CDs, dedicated collectors wept at the triple-digit pricing of rare Japanese CD sets containing most, but never quite all, of a popular '90s RPG soundtrack, and...
August2021
News Konami's Castlevania: Grimoire Of Souls Rises From The Dead
Update: Announced in 2018, resurrected in 2021
Update: Well, that was unexpected. Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls was announced in 2018 (see story below), soft-launched in Canada in 2019 and then delisted, but it's now getting resurrected (pardon the pun) on Apple Arcade (thanks, Gematsu). It has been confirmed for iOS, tvOS, and Mac, and the release...
July2021
News Super Bomberman R Online Blasts Its Way To 3 Million Downloads
Konami celebrates with a free gift
Back in May, Konami released its free-to-play title Super Bomberman R Online on the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms. If you've not played it yet, this is the battle-royale take on the long-running series - allowing up to 64-players to blast each other away online. Now, a few months on, Konami has...
News Konami's Next Yu-Gi-Oh! Game Arrives In Japan This August
It's time to duel, again!
Update #3 [Tue 13th Jul, 2021 03:05 BST]: A Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel demo is now available on the Japanese eShop. Once again, this game launches in Japan on 12th August. There's still no word on a local release. Update #2 [Sun 18th Apr, 2021 09:30 BST]: While there's still no mention of a local release, Konami has now locked...