Vampire Survivors developer Poncle has provided insights into the challenges of adapting their game, initially announced as an animated series but now shifting towards a live-action film. The primary hurdle, as Poncle highlighted in a Steam post, is the game's lack of a traditional plot, which complicates the process of turning it into a coherent film narrative.
Despite the change in format, Poncle remains committed to working with Story Kitchen on this live-action project. They emphasized the importance of taking time to find the right partners who can bring creativity and a deep understanding of the game to the table. "As mentioned last year, rather than jumping the gun and make stuff for the sake of making it, we have preferred to wait to find partners that felt right, especially because to make anything that isn't a video game out of Vampire Survivors requires good ideas, creativity, and that quirky knowledge of the game," Poncle stated.
Acknowledging the difficulty of this task, Poncle humorously noted, "That is a very difficult triplet to get 100% right. Please remember the game has no plot — it doesn't? — so nobody can really anticipate how a film about it is going to be. That is part of what makes it exciting." The developer also playfully remarked on the irony of adapting a game with no story, sarcastically stating, "the most important thing in Vampire Survivors is the story."
As for the game itself, Vampire Survivors is a fast-paced gothic horror game with rogue-lite elements that became an unexpected hit following its launch as an indie title on Steam. The game's popularity has led to significant expansions, now featuring 50 playable characters and 80 weapons, along with major expansions and the Ode to Castlevania DLC.
In IGN's 8/10 review, the game was praised for its deceptive simplicity and deep gameplay, ideal for playing alongside other activities like listening to podcasts. However, the review also noted some extended dull periods when players get ahead of the game's curve.
Given the unique nature of Vampire Survivors and its lack of a traditional narrative, the adaptation's final form and release date remain uncertain, adding an element of anticipation and intrigue to the project.
