Sony’s February 2026 State of Play was packed, but four announcements stood out: Kena: Scars of Kosmora on PS5 and PC, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse from the Dead Cells team, a new look at Silent Hill: Townfall, and Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 for PS5. Together, they gave PS5 players a clear picture of what Konami and Ember Lab are doing next, and why 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for classic franchises and story‑driven adventures.
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Release window | 2026. |
| Developers | Konami with Evil Empire and Motion Twin. |
| Anniversary context | Produced for Castlevania’s 40th anniversary. |
| Gameplay style | 2D exploration action, classic side‑scrolling with secrets and whip‑oriented combat. |
| Series positioning | New 2D entry that deliberately echoes NES‑era Castlevania structure and tone. |
If you just want the essentials: Kena: Scars of Kosmora is a full sequel set on a new island with expanded elemental combat, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a new 2D side‑scroller launching in 2026, Silent Hill: Townfall is a first‑person psychological horror spin on the series, and Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 finally brings Metal Gear Solid 4, Peace Walker, and Ghost Babel to PS5 in one package.
Kena: Scars of Kosmora – what’s new in the sequel?
Kena: Scars of Kosmora is Ember Lab’s follow‑up to Kena: Bridge of Spirits, set after the first game with Kena now an older, established Spirit Guide. This time she travels to the mysterious island of Kosmora, seeking a cure for an affliction and trying to reconnect with a friend from her past.
On Kosmora, a powerful corruption shatters Kena’s staff, which has literally been keeping her alive. To survive, she’s forced to embrace Kosmora’s forgotten version of spirit guiding, using a dangerous alchemy‑based system to manipulate elemental powers in combat and exploration. The PlayStation Blog confirms that spirit companions are back, growing over time and unlocking new abilities to help you solve puzzles and fight enemies.
From the State of Play trailer and official descriptions, you can expect:
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A larger, more varied island with distinct cultures and “buried secrets”.
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More strategic combat thanks to elemental mechanics layered over the original’s staff and bow‑style toolkit.
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New bosses and corrupted foes built around those elemental interactions.
For returning players, the big question is whether it’s just “more of the same.” Expert insight: the sequel reads less like an extended DLC and more like a full second chapter, with Kena’s identity and powers actually put at risk this time rather than just her village.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – a new 2D era
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a brand‑new 2D side‑scrolling Castlevania being developed by Evil Empire and Motion Twin, the studios behind Dead Cells and its major updates. Konami announced it during the State of Play as a 2026 release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
This is the first completely new 2D Castlevania in years, and it lands during the series’ 40th anniversary. It’s set 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, explicitly tying into classic NES‑era lore while aiming to recapture traditional whip‑centric action platforming. Early write‑ups and Konami’s announcement position Belmont’s Curse as a return to:
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Classic side‑scrolling exploration with secret rooms and hidden items.
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Tight, pattern‑driven combat built around a Belmont’s weapon set.
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A tone and structure closer to older entries than to modern metroidvanias.
Dead Cells has already proven how strongly that team understands Castlevania’s pacing and enemy design, right down to a full Castlevania crossover DLC in that game. If you’ve wanted a fresh 2D Castlevania but were worried about a complete reboot, this looks like a “by fans, for fans” project with Konami still in the loop.
Silent Hill: Townfall – what kind of horror is it?
Silent Hill: Townfall is a new psychological horror entry that shifts the series to a first‑person perspective and focuses on a new town and cast. Konami describes it as story‑driven, with a mix of exploration, “horrific enemies to fight and evade,” and puzzles that carry a lot of the storytelling weight.
One of the most distinctive features shown so far is a portable CRT‑style device you carry with you. It acts as both a tool during encounters and a way to uncover hidden story details, hinting at audio and visual distortions you’ll need to pay attention to as you move through the town.
The game is planned for PlayStation 5 with a 2026 release window, and it sits alongside other modern Silent Hill projects like the Silent Hill 2 remake and Silent Hill f as part of Konami’s broader revival of the brand. If you prefer tension and dread over constant combat, Townfall looks closer to classic psychological horror than action‑heavy horror shooters.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 – what’s in it?
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is Konami’s next bundle for the stealth series, launching August 27, 2026 on PS5. The collection includes:
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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
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Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
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Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (as a bonus title)
Sony's latest State of Play is now officially the most watched ever.
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For long‑time fans, the big deal is that Metal Gear Solid 4 has been effectively stuck on PlayStation 3 for years; bringing it to PS5 in a modern collection finally makes the saga feel complete on current hardware. Peace Walker’s inclusion also means you get one of the most important “bridge” entries in the Big Boss storyline in an easily accessible form.
Konami has not detailed every technical spec yet, but the official description mentions extras aimed at series veterans, echoing the art, scripts, and bonus content found in Master Collection Vol. 1. Until Konami publishes full patch‑style notes for performance and resolution targets, assume those details are still subject to change.
Is this State of Play worth catching up on later?
If you missed the live broadcast, this is one of those State of Plays that’s still worth watching back if you care about story‑driven adventures and classic franchises. The Kena: Scars of Kosmora trailer works even if you never touched the original, while Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse and Silent Hill: Townfall both serve as clear jumping‑in points for their respective series.
From a player perspective, this showcase quietly did three important things: it confirmed that Kena is becoming a real series rather than a one‑off, it handed 2D Castlevania to a team that has already proven they “get” it, and it finally moved some of Metal Gear’s most locked‑away entries onto PS5. If you’re building a 2026 backlog on PlayStation or PC, those four announcements alone are enough to keep this State of Play on your radar.
