Poncle, the studio behind Vampire Survivors, has announced Vampire Crawlers, a deckbuilding dungeon-crawler set in the same world as its predecessor. The game introduces roguelite elements and a card-based system, marking a departure from the original's bullet hell style. It is slated for release in 2026 across multiple platforms, including day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass.
Announcement and Development Background
Vampire Crawlers was revealed on November 20, 2025, during Microsoft's Xbox Partner Preview event. Poncle founder and CEO Luca Galante explained that the game emerged from multiple prototypes explored by the studio over approximately four years, starting shortly after Vampire Survivors' 2021 success. Among five initial projects, which included RPGs and metroidvania concepts, Vampire Crawlers stood out organically due to its immediate appeal. Galante noted a strong interest in genres like metroidvania, even joking about seeking permission from Konami for a Castlevania-inspired title, but emphasized tying future projects to Vampire Survivors' universe, such as its DLC characters.
Gameplay and Features
Described as an 'Action TurboTurn™ Game' in jest, Vampire Crawlers is a turn-based dungeon crawler where players build decks to mow down enemy hordes in familiar dungeons viewed from a 2.5D perspective. It features a central village hub for Survivors and allows tactical or fast-paced play, with the game ensuring accurate outcomes amid chaotic abilities. Originally planned for 2025, the release shifted to 2026 after adding deeper deckbuilding elements based on player feedback to meet genre expectations. Poncle's press release states: "Build busted decks, explore familiar dungeons from a new perspective, and unleash world‑ending combos. Either take your time and be tactical, or play turns as fast as you humanly can: the outcome is always accurate."
Release Details
The game will launch as a full title, not in early access, on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices in 2026. It supports Xbox Play Anywhere and arrives day one on Xbox Game Pass. Galante aims to avoid the November 19, 2026, release window of Grand Theft Auto VI, quoting: "I'm trying to avoid the Grand Theft Auto VI window. Not because the game is competing with GTA VI, but because the whole world is going to compete against GTA VI." Poncle plans post-launch updates based on community input, similar to Vampire Survivors' expansions.
