← all stories
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors has released its eighth DLC, Legacy of the Bloodmoon, on August 28, 2026, and is offering the base game and DLC for free to blood donors until October 7. The developer poncle is also establishing a Japan studio and has delayed a Switch and Switch 2 update for cross-platform fixes.
Synthesized from 11
Yomimono stories · updated
1h ago
Vampire Survivors continues to expand through its eighth paid DLC, Legacy of the Bloodmoon, released on August 28, 2026. The expansion adds over 10 new characters, more than 16 new weapons, 8 music tracks, an XL-sized stage, and a new adventure. It directly continues the story of the first expansion, Legacy of the Moonspell, following the Bloodmoon Clan as they trace their god Baal-Sazar. The DLC was announced in June 2026 as a summer release, having grown from a scrapped part of the first expansion into a standalone product.
The game's free update path continues with version 1.15, titled The Lycaeum, announced in June 2026 for a summer release. It introduces a water-themed stage, new characters, fish-themed weapons, multiple save slots, and quality-of-life features. The PC version launched in June 2026, while the Switch and Switch 2 version of the same update has been delayed while poncle works on cross-platform online co-op fixes. That update will bring frame rate improvements and mouse mode to Switch 2, and performance boosts to Switch.
Poncle's business moves extend beyond content. The developer announced plans to open a Japan studio by the end of 2026, with El Shaddai creator Sawaki Takeyasu as representative director and president. The studio aims to streamline communication with Japanese partners. Poncle also paused a Fortnite collaboration announced in June 2026, citing Epic Games' use of generative AI in asset creation, which conflicts with the developer's stated policy against such technology. The collaboration's fate remains undecided.
The game continues to see promotional activity: a September 2026 campaign gives away Vampire Survivors and the Legacy of the Bloodmoon DLC for free to those who donate blood or make donations, with keys distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until October 7. Total player count has exceeded 27 million. The game also appeared in the Steam Bullet Hell Fest 2026 sale in June, and an officially approved physical controller collaboration at BitSummit featured spinning Bibles and towel-swinging games.
Key facts
- Latest DLC
- Legacy of the Bloodmoon, released August 28, 2026 ↗
- Blood donation giveaway
- Vampire Survivors and Legacy of the Bloodmoon DLC free for blood donors, application period until October 7 ↗
- Player count
- Over 27 million total players ↗
- Switch and Switch 2 update delay
- Version 1.15 update delayed for cross-platform online co-op fixes ↗
- Japan studio
- Poncle plans to establish a Japan studio by end of 2026, with Sawaki Takeyasu as president ↗
- Fortnite collaboration status
- Poncle announced it is reviewing the Fortnite collaboration after Epic Games' generative AI push ↗
- Free update content
- Version 1.15, The Lycaeum, adds a water-themed stage, multiple save slots, and quality-of-life features ↗
Timeline
- Sep 3, 2026 Vampire Survivors and Blood Moon DLC Free With Blood Donation
- Aug 29, 2026 Vampire Survivors Bloodmoon DLC Adds Over 10 Characters and 16 Weapons
- Aug 28, 2026 Vampire Survivors Legacy of the Bloodmoon DLC Arrives August 28
- Aug 21, 2026 Vampire Survivors DLC Legacy of the Bloodmoon Sets August 28 Release
- Aug 13, 2026 PS Plus August Game Catalog Adds HELLDIVERS 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Jul 3, 2026 Vampire Survivors Switch And Switch 2 Update Delayed For Cross-Platform Fixes
- Jun 18, 2026 Vampire Survivors Developer Reconsiders Fortnite Collab Over Epic AI Push
- Jun 9, 2026 Steam Bullet Hell Fest 2026 Launches With Discounts on Vampire Survivors, Touhou, and More
- Jun 9, 2026 Vampire Survivors Developer poncle to Open Japan Studio, El Shaddai Creator as President
- Jun 7, 2026 Vampire Survivors Gets Water-Themed Update, Blood Moon DLC Announced
- Jun 5, 2026 Vampire Survivors Gets Physical at BitSummit With Spinning Bibles and Towel Swinging
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Noted
- Total player count has exceeded 27 million. · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- developer poncle said it is reviewing the deal · 2026-06-18
- Noted
- Vampire Survivors Gets Physical at BitSummit With Spinning Bibles and Towel Swinging · 2026-06-05
- Release
- game · 2026-08-29 · 2026-08-29
- Release
- game · August 28 · 2026-08-28
- Release
- game · 2026-08-18 · PlayStation Plus Game Catalog · 2026-08-13
- Release
- game · June 2026 · PC · 2026-07-03
- Release
- game · summer 2026 · 2026-06-07
- Release
- game · summer 2026 · 2026-06-06
- Announced
- version 1.15 update delayed for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 · 2026-07-03
- Announced
- new DLC Legacy of the Bloodmoon planned for summer 2026 · 2026-07-03
- Announced
- Fortnite collaboration · 2026-06-18
- Announced
- water-themed free update and new paid expansion (Future Games Show: Summer Showcase 2026) · 2026-06-07
- Announced
- version 1.15 free update · 2026-06-06
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/vampire-survivors.
CC BY 4.0.
Claim activity
When a claim about Vampire Survivors was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against
open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
- Confirmed new DLC Legacy of the Bloodmoon planned for summer 2026 6d ago · source
- Debunked game June 2026 PC 6d ago · source
- Disputed game summer 2026 Aug 30 · source
- Confirmed version 1.15 free update Aug 30 · source
All coverage
6d ago
Developer poncle announced on September 3 that it will give away Vampire Survivors and the new DLC Legacy of the Blood Moon for free to those who donate blood or make donations. The application period runs until October 7. The game is a top-down action title with roguelike elements, supporting solo play and online co-op for up to four players. Total player count has exceeded 27 million. The DLC, released on August 28, adds a new stage, over 10 characters, and over 16 weapons.
Aug 29
Poncle released the eighth expansion DLC for Vampire Survivors, titled Legacy of the Bloodmoon. It adds over 10 new characters, 16 or more new weapons, 8 new music tracks, an XL-sized new stage, and 1 new adventure. The DLC connects to the first expansion, Legacy of the Moonspell, and its Moonspell clan theme.
Aug 28
Vampire Survivors developer poncle will release the Legacy of the Bloodmoon DLC on August 28. The expansion follows the Bloodmoon Clan, a fanatical sect born from the Red Moon Order, and adds over 10 cursed characters, more than 16 new weapons, 8 music tracks, and the large stage Redmoon Manor.
Aug 21
Developer poncle announced that the eighth expansion DLC for Vampire Survivors, Legacy of the Bloodmoon, will release on August 28. It adds over 10 new characters, over 16 new weapons, 8 new music tracks, an XL-sized stage, and a new adventure. The DLC is closely tied to the first DLC, Legacy of the Moonspell, and will likely match its Steam price of 135 yen.
Aug 13
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on August 13, 2026 the August additions to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, available to Extra and Premium tier subscribers. The cooperative action shooter HELLDIVERS 2, in which up to four players complete missions across planets overrun by insects and robots, launched on the service the same day. The announcement coincides with the release of the game's Devoid of Liberty update, themed around the squid-like mutant Illuminate faction. On August 18, the open-world RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, set in 15th-century Bohemia, and the action game Vampire Survivors will join the lineup. August 25 brings Hell is Us, plus four additional titles: Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Party Dash, Two Point Museum, Metro Exodus, and Dying Light 2 Stay Human. The Classics Catalog, available to Premium plan subscribers, adds the PS2 title Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams and the original PlayStation game Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire on August 18. All eight Game Catalog titles and two Classics Catalog titles were confirmed across multiple outlets.
Jul 3
Poncle announced that the version 1.15 update for Vampire Survivors on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is delayed while the team works on cross-platform online co-op fixes. The PC version launched in June 2026. The update will bring frame rate improvements and mouse mode to Switch 2, and performance boosts, reduced load times, and crash fixes to Switch. A new DLC, Legacy of the Bloodmoon, is planned for summer 2026.
Jun 18
On June 17, Epic Games announced during its State of Unreal 2026 keynote that Fortnite would collaborate with several titles including Vampire Survivors, developed by poncle. Within hours, poncle posted on Reddit stating it was reviewing the partnership. The developer cited news that Epic Games is using generative AI to create game assets including Fortnite characters. A video published June 16 showed an internal tool called Gen Media being used in the art creation process, with prompt-typing visible. The State of Unreal presentation also emphasized generative AI features: Unreal Engine 5.8 added conversational AI support, and the planned Unreal Engine 6 will integrate AI agents like Claude and Codex for development tasks. Poncle has previously stated it would reject publishing games using generative AI or Web3 technology. The developer said it will inform if there are any developments, leaving the collaboration's fate uncertain.
Jun 9
Valve launched the Steam Bullet Hell Fest 2026 sale event on June 9, bringing discounts on bullet hell shooting games including Vampire Survivors, Enter the Gungeon, and multiple Touhou Project titles. The event runs through June 16 and also offers free demos, upcoming release previews, and themed Steam Points Shop items.
Jun 9
poncle, the UK-based developer of Vampire Survivors, announced plans to establish a Japan studio by the end of 2026. Sawaki Takeyasu, the creator of El Shaddai and representative director of crim, will serve as the studio's representative director and president. Takeyasu announced the appointment on his X account on June 9, 2026, saying he would support poncle founder Luca Galante and the team while preparing the studio. The Japan studio aims to streamline communication with Japanese partners and create new collaboration opportunities. Takeyasu previously collaborated with poncle on a crossover between his game Mythological Construction Star Note and Vampire Survivors, and also created the package design for the spin-off Vampire Crawlers. Galante has said he grew up experiencing Takeyasu's work and felt honored that Takeyasu enjoyed Vampire Survivors enough to make a homage. The announcement coincides with the reveal of a new brand called SURVIVATON for future poncle survivor-like games, and a new expansion pack Legacy of the Bloodmoon for Vampire Survivors.
Jun 7
Developer poncle announced a water-themed free update and a new paid expansion for Vampire Survivors during the Future Games Show: Summer Showcase 2026 on June 7. The version 1.15 free update, titled The Lycaeum, adds a new stage of the same name, characters Para Kooleo and Big Troubler, fish-themed weapons, new bosses, and three types of Darkana. It also introduces multiple save slots and quality-of-life features like a character selection filter and a revive function for discarded stage items. The update is scheduled for release this summer. Separately, the paid expansion Legacy of the Bloodmoon will launch in summer 2026 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, and Android. It includes 12 new characters, over 16 weapons and evolutions, a new XL stage called Red Moon Mansion, and 8 new music tracks. The story follows the Blood Moon clan tracing the pilgrimage of Saint Baal Sazar. Poncle revealed that the expansion began as a small addition to the earlier Legacy of the Moonspell but grew into a standalone release. It will be priced around $1, with a corresponding price reduction for Legacy of the Moonspell.
Jun 5
At the BitSummit game festival, the make.ctrl.Japan booth featured an officially Poncle-approved collaboration with Vampire Survivors. Players could try special controllers including a manually spun King's Bible, a treasure chest that becomes the player character, and a towel-swinging game that requires matching enemy colors. The booth also showcased other unique controller-based games.