Metallic Gear Would Be ‘Too A lot Strain’ for Vampire Survivors Maker

Vampire Survivors wants no introduction. The bullet hell-esque roguelike RPG is a phenomenon, and prolonged its unstoppable run to PS5 and PS4 earlier this 12 months, the place it’s inevitably confirmed an unlimited success.

Earlier this week, developer Poncle launched its Ode to Castlevania enlargement, an add-on which incorporates in style characters from Konami’s gothic sequence, together with Trevor Belmont and Alucard. It additionally includes a fairly enormous map and a bunch of weapons, in addition to an compulsory mixture of Easter eggs.

For creator Luca Galante, this collaboration sees the discharge come full-circle, as he admits the sport began out with a Castlevania-themed property pack.

“Once I began work on the sport I had this asset pack that was used for the icons and all the things that was impressed by Castlevania, clearly,” he tells us at a Halloween occasion in a hipster sub-district of London.

This isn’t developer Poncle’s first crossover with Konami, because it beforehand launched an enormous Contra content material pack named Operation Weapons. With Vampire Survivor’s apparent Castlevania inspirations, we needed to ask Galante why it chosen the legendary run-‘n’-gun franchise first.

“That was deliberate, mainly,” he laughs. “As a result of with Konami, we really clicked immediately with the creatives and the folks in advertising. I feel the concept got here from them really; we thought it was humorous. In order that’s why we did Contra first and simply teased Castlevania formally.”

Galante explains that working with Konami is collaborative. “We begin by giving them the concepts that they wish to undergo, simply to see in the event that they’re on model. After which we simply do actually no matter I need. I submit the stuff I made to them, and we get approval. It’s quite simple.”

Sadly, with Castlevania designer Koji Igarashi now not with Konami, he had no enter on the DLC. However Galante reveals that he met along with his hero in Japan earlier within the 12 months, and whereas he couldn’t present him the content material because it was nonetheless in growth, it was nice to catch up.

With the Konami connection so sturdy, we couldn’t assist however ponder whether or not Metallic Gear could also be subsequent? “I feel that may be an excessive amount of strain,” he smiles. “I do know Metallic Gear most likely in addition to Castlevania, however I’d actually really feel an excessive amount of strain. I’d by no means say no, however I’d be actually, actually scared.”

The plan for Vampire Survivors, nevertheless, is to maintain including to the expertise. “After I launched the sport, I did not know what to do after that. I wasn’t a lot sooner or later. So I simply tried to publish a really small patch – 1.1, I imagine – and other people completely liked it.”

That proved to be a eureka second.

“I used to be like, effectively, you recognize what? I’m simply going to maintain doing this. I may make a sequel, however it does not really feel appropriate. If I make a sequel of the sport, however simply the identical sport with completely different content material, I really feel like I’m dishonest the Gamers, actually, as a result of I can simply make extra content material for this sport. And so that is what I am planning on doing.”

It’s apparent talking to Galante that he’s nonetheless having fun with engaged on Vampire Survivors, and that filters by way of to the top product. However to take care of that pleasure, he’s solely taken with working with manufacturers that he’s personally captivated with.

“We had lots of requests to collaborate,” he admits. “Typically with massive franchises. However I am like, if I do not really feel a connection there, I can’t actually push it to the Gamers.”

When it comes to future expansions, Galante says he does have a protracted listing of concepts, however it feels like he’d a lot moderately sort out one thing area of interest. “I get scared simply [of popular franchises],” he jokes. “I’d moderately do one thing very obscure that I am the one one on this planet or within the West who is aware of.”