{
  "schemaVersion": "1.3",
  "id": "castlevania-belmonts-curse",
  "slug": "castlevania-belmonts-curse",
  "product": "Castlevania: Belmont's Curse",
  "title": "Castlevania: Belmont's Curse",
  "job": "Is the date real, do they need to spend, what can they skip.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-14",
  "timezoneNote": "Calendar dates are as published.",
  "lifecycle": {
    "postedAt": "2026-09-03",
    "announcedPlatformReleases": [
      {
        "platform": "Nintendo Switch",
        "date": "2026-10-15",
        "sourceIds": [
          "nintendo-store"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PlayStation 5",
        "date": "2026-10-15",
        "sourceIds": [
          "konami-product"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Xbox Series X|S",
        "date": "2026-10-15",
        "sourceIds": [
          "konami-product"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Xbox on PC",
        "date": "2026-10-15",
        "sourceIds": [
          "konami-product"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Steam",
        "date": "2026-10-15",
        "sourceIds": [
          "konami-product"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "text": "As an Amazon Associate, NeedFlag earns from qualifying purchases."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "nintendo-store",
      "label": "Nintendo store — Castlevania Belmont's Curse",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/castlevania-belmonts-curse-switch/"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-midnight",
      "label": "Nintendo store — Midnight Edition",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/castlevania-belmonts-curse-midnight-edition-switch/"
    },
    {
      "id": "konami-hub",
      "label": "Konami — Castlevania Belmont's Curse",
      "url": "https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/belmonts_curse/us/en-us/"
    },
    {
      "id": "konami-product",
      "label": "Konami — product page",
      "url": "https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/belmonts_curse/us/en-us/product"
    },
    {
      "id": "konami-press",
      "label": "Konami — press release",
      "url": "https://www.konami.com/games/us/en/topics/3097/"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-m2-ssd",
      "label": "PlayStation Support — add an M.2 SSD to PS5",
      "url": "https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/"
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-org",
      "label": "ESRB — Castlevania Belmont's Curse",
      "url": "https://www.esrb.org/ratings/41254/castlevania-belmonts-curse/"
    }
  ],
  "official": [
    {
      "id": "launch-date",
      "label": "Launch date",
      "value": "15 October 2026",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-press",
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "platforms-nintendo",
      "label": "Nintendo listing",
      "value": "Switch; Switch 2 runs with Switch behavior",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "No Switch 2 edition or upgrade published.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "platforms-other",
      "label": "Other platforms",
      "value": "PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-product"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-category",
      "label": "ESRB rating",
      "value": "T",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "esrb-org"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-descriptors",
      "label": "ESRB descriptors",
      "value": "Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "esrb-org"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "publisher",
      "label": "Publisher",
      "value": "Konami",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-hub"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "developers",
      "label": "Developers",
      "value": "Konami / Evil Empire",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Press release also cites Motion Twin partnership.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-hub"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-standard",
      "label": "Standard digital",
      "value": "$29.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-midnight",
      "label": "Midnight Edition",
      "value": "$39.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Digital art and sound gallery, Trevor and Sypha costumes, Family's Grace relic. USD.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-midnight"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "preorder-bonus",
      "label": "Pre-order bonus",
      "value": "Alucard costume",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "physical-note",
      "label": "Physical format",
      "value": "Requires extra download",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "players",
      "label": "Players",
      "value": "1",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-nintendo",
      "label": "Nintendo estimated install",
      "value": "4.2 GB",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-konami-switch",
      "label": "Konami minimum (Switch)",
      "value": "4 GB minimum, 6 GB recommended",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Konami lists 8 GB / 10 GB minimum on other platforms.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-product"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "frame-rate",
      "label": "Frame rate",
      "value": "30fps on Switch; 60fps on other platforms",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-product",
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "media": {
    "trailer": {
      "label": "Official trailer",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "kind": "youtube",
      "youtubeId": "ZRgOG0Phue8",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRgOG0Phue8",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-press"
      ]
    },
    "still": {
      "label": "Official still",
      "src": "/media/castlevania-belmonts-curse/official-still.jpg",
      "credit": "Konami",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/castlevania-belmonts-curse-switch/",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    }
  },
  "decisions": [
    {
      "id": "buy-now-set",
      "item": "Buy-now set",
      "verdict": "empty",
      "rationale": "Nothing currently earns a yes. Empty buy slots are intentional. No catalog. No affiliate slots until a line is a yes.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "game-switch",
      "item": "Switch Standard ($29.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed standard digital edition. Switch 2 runs the Switch version.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GMNVWQDV?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "game-ps5-standard",
      "item": "PS5 Standard ($29.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed standard digital edition.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-product"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GMNQMJS1?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "midnight",
      "item": "Midnight Edition ($39.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed Midnight Edition, with digital art and sound gallery, Trevor and Sypha costumes, and Family's Grace relic.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-midnight"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GMP6CM42?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-1tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 1 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Need if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-2tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 2 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Larger option if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    }
  ],
  "openHoles": [
    {
      "id": "dlc-prices",
      "question": "What are DLC prices?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Not recorded on this brief.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-product"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "accessibility",
      "question": "What are accessibility details?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Not recorded on this brief.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "konami-product"
      ]
    }
  ]
}