Bloodstained by Castlevania's IGA Gets Physical PS Vita Release

Kickstarter campaign meets US$3.5-million stretch goal

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The Kickstarter fundraising campaign for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, the new game by former Castlevania producer Koji "IGA" Igarashi, reached its stretch goal of US$3.5 million (including PayPal contributions) for a PS Vita version on Friday. The staff are planning both digital and physical releases for the PS Vita, as well as for the other platforms.

The creators were already planning to release the game on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Wii U. Texas-based Armature Studio (Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate) will handle development of the Wii U version and the PS Vita version. Armature said that they are thinking of adding the following to the PS Vita version:

• Music Export – We thought it would be awesome to be able to export the game's music to the Vita's music library. So we're going to do that.
• PS4 Cross Save Support – Obviously, we'll need to work with the PS4 dev team on this, but we've done cross save before and we'd love to do it again.
• Touch Screen Support – Remember how we mentioned drawing on the map on the WiiU version? Why not do that for Vita too? And scrub around the map with your finger as well.
• PlayStation TV - We'll also make sure that the game is fully playable on the PS TV. 

Additionally, the campaign met the US$3.25 million stretch goal for an asynchronous online multiplayer mode. The mode would allow players to "borrow" a friend's character stats for a certain amount of time, allow players to see a friend's "ghost data" (e.g. seeing a friend's saved character movements while fighting a boss), and more.

The remaining stretch goals will add orchestrated tracks (US$3.75 million), an online challenge mode (US$4 million), a third playable character (U$4.25 million), a prequel mini-game for PC/consoles (US$4.5 million), and a prequel mini-game for the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS (US$4.75 million)

The project met its initial goal of US$500,000 within four hours of launching on May 11. It has since surpassed several other stretch goals, including its US$850,000 goal to add voice-acting by David Hayter (Metal Gear Solid's Snake). Igarashi stated that he has partners that will provide further funding if the demand is proven.

The campaign will end on Friday, June 12 at 11:00 p.m. EDT.

Bloodstained -Ritual of the Night- will be an "action-adventure game in the gothic horror style." The game will offer single-player, collaborative, and versus modes. The Kickstarter describes the game:

You are Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist curse which slowly crystallizes your skin. You must battle your way through a demon-filled castle summoned by Gebel, your old friend whose body has become more crystal than flesh.

Igarashi (Castlevania, Tokimeki Memorial) will helm the game, and Michiru Yamane (Skullgirls) and Ippo Yamada (Megaman) will serve as sound producers and composers.

Igarashi left Konami to form his own development studio last year.