Vampire Survivors developer Poncle has shed light on the challenges of adapting their game into a film, a project initially announced as an animated series in 2023. In a recent Steam post, Poncle confirmed they are "still working with Story Kitchen on a live action film," despite the shift in format. The core difficulty, as Poncle points out, lies in the fact that "the game has no plot," making the adaptation a particularly complex endeavor.
Poncle emphasized the importance of finding the right partners to ensure the adaptation captures the essence of Vampire Survivors. They stated, "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." The developer acknowledges the challenge of translating a game that lacks a traditional narrative into a compelling film, describing it as a "very difficult triplet to get 100% right."
The irony of adapting a game with no plot into a film was not lost on Poncle, who humorously remarked, "the most important thing in Vampire Survivors is the story." With no clear vision yet on how the film will take shape, a release date remains unannounced.
Vampire Survivors itself is a fast-paced gothic horror game with rogue-lite elements, where players can quickly gain power and take on hordes of monsters. Originally launched as a modest indie game on Steam, it unexpectedly surged in popularity, becoming one of the most surprising hits in recent years. Poncle has since expanded the game significantly, now offering 50 playable characters and 80 weapons, along with two major expansions and the Ode to Castlevania DLC.
IGN's 8/10 review praised Vampire Survivors as an "outwardly simple but incredibly deep hole to fall down," ideal for playing while listening to podcasts, though it noted some periods could feel extended and dull once players surpass the game's learning curve.
