Vampire Survivors Takes an Unexpected Leap into Hollywood’s Spotlight
The hit indie roguelike game prepares for a unique cinematic adaptation despite its minimal narrative structure.
Story Kitchen, a production company specializing in video game adaptations, has partnered with developer Poncle to bring the indie sensation Vampire Survivors to the big screen. The announcement marks an intriguing turn for the pixel-art roguelike that has captivated millions since its full release in late 2022.
The prospect of adapting Vampire Survivors into a film presents a distinctive creative challenge. The game’s core experience revolves around surviving endless waves of monsters while collecting power-ups and weapons, with minimal narrative elements. Poncle acknowledged this unique situation in a Steam post, stating that “nobody can really anticipate how a film about it will be,” while expressing excitement about the creative possibilities this limitation presents.
Beyond the movie announcement, Poncle revealed plans for several other “cross-media” projects scheduled for 2025. The developer also outlined changes to the game’s update strategy, promising fewer but more substantial content releases. Among these planned updates is the implementation of cross-save functionality, set to arrive in early 2025.
The announcement follows the successful launch of Vampire Survivors’ largest DLC to date, Ode to Castlevania, in October 2024. This expansion brought together two beloved gaming franchises, featuring voice work from Neil Newbon (known for his role as Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3) as Dracula. The DLC packed in 10 hours of additional content, including iconic Castlevania characters like Trevor and Simon Belmont, alongside 40 new weapons and numerous musical tracks from the series.
Vampire Survivors has maintained its momentum since release, earning prestigious accolades including Action Game of the Year at the 2023 D.I.C.E. Awards and the Breakthrough Award at the 2022 Golden Joystick Awards. While fans might wonder about a potential sequel, Poncle has expressed a preference for continuing to expand the original game with fresh content and mechanics, stating that any future project would need to be “radically new” to warrant development.