Konami announced new details regarding Mercury Steam's upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, revealing that a large portion of its gameplay will take place in a modern-day, open-world setting.

Expressing a desire for the game's world to "grow organically, and not level-to-level," Mercury Steam's Enric Alvarez notes that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will allow players to freely explore the game's world without loading times. While much of the game will take place in Dracula's castle, players will also be able to explore a surrounding modern-day city, providing a stark contrast with the franchise's typical medieval fantasy setting.

Alvarez describes the game as darker in tone than its predecessor, and notes that its story is defined by "intense and contradictory feelings." Combat will be more strategic and tactical, thanks to more complex enemy behavior.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will be released this winter.