Vampire Survivors dev is "so focused" on its hit roguelike that it doesn't know what it's doing next

Vampire Survivors
(Image credit: poncle)

Vampire Survivors' developer has been so preoccupied with its hit roguelike that it's not given much thought to what its next project will be. 

The indie roguelike is one of the biggest success stories in recent years, managing to rack up huge player numbers and beat out huge titles like Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarok to claim BAFTA's Game of the Year Award. Its basic yet immensely challenging mechanics are so absorbing that even Xbox boss Phil Spencer couldn't put it down. But despite the game's overwhelming popularity, developer Poncle currently has no plans to follow it up with a sequel.

In a recent AMA on the Nintendo Switch subreddit, the developer was asked about its next game and whether it will opt for a follow-up to Vampire Survivors or branch out into a whole new genre. "We're so focused on Vampire survivors we've not really thought of what we do next, would be something we know the players would enjoy though!" replied lead QA engineer Mathew Gurunlian. "Personally I've always been a big fan of platformers like banjo-kazooie so would love to work on something like that one day."

There may be no sign of a sequel, but Ponch has no intention of calling it a day on Vampire Survivors anytime soon, either. When quizzed on the topic of updates and DLC, Gurunlian responded, "As long as Luca [Galante, game creator] has ideas we'll keep updating the game!"

A major new update for Vampire Survivors arrived last month, alongside the Nintendo Switch version, which introduced couch co-op to the roguelike, allowing you to take on wave after wave of nightmarish creatures with friends by your side. 

"With the way Vampire Survivors is designed, we can deliver both new content and new game mechanics on the existing game, so why make a sequel?" Galante said in an interview back in March. "I think that if we make a sequel or a spiritual successor, then we should offer something radically new." 

For now, why not test your survival skills with our pick of the best roguelikes

Anne-Marie Ostler
Freelance Writer

Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 2014 to pursue a Games Journalism and PR degree at Staffordshire University. Following that, I've freelanced for GamesMaster, Games TM, Official PlayStation Magazine and, more recently, Play and 12DOVE. My love of gaming sprang from successfully defeating that first Goomba in Super Mario Bros on the NES. These days, PlayStation is my jam. When not gaming or writing, I can usually be found scouring the internet for anything Tomb Raider related to add to my out of control memorabilia collection.

Read more
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors dev teases "one more original expansion," online co-op, and what sounds like a whole new game in the studio's "biggest, chaotic-est, surprising-est" year yet
Screenshot of Desktop Survivors 90, showing someone's Windows desktop with a YouTube tab open of a cat playing the keyboard.
This roguelike's basically Vampire Survivors, but you play as off-brand Clippy on your very own desktop
No Rest for the Wicked.
As Metroidvania fans lament Ori dev's plan to work on its Souls-like for another 5 years at least, CEO says "we just had a call with Microsoft a few days ago" and "let's see what'll happen"
Coen looking over the village at night during the trailer for The Blood of Dawnwalker.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is already showing its Witcher 3 roots, but it also reminds me of my favorite underrated vampire RPG
The Blood of Dawnwalker: A screenshot of the vampire Brencis holding up a crown during the trailer for the upcoming game.
Still plagued by Gwent memes, The Witcher 3 director's new vampire RPG makes you think twice about playing mini-games while the world burns
ben starr dressed in harequinn makeup chomping down on a banana
"I still have a job to do": Balatro creator says selling 5 million copies hasn't really changed his lifestyle, and he's focused on updates instead of new games
Latest in Roguelike
The King is Watching
This roguelike city-builder casts you as a benevolent Lord of the Rings villain, and its Steam Next Fest demo accidentally consumed my entire evening
The key art for the Blue Prince showing a doorway on a blue wall, which is open to reveal several more rooms within its frame, a person deep within opening another door several layers deep to a bright white light
This exploration roguelike has no combat, and just tasks you with placing rooms on a blueprint – but its Steam Next Fest demo is delightfully devious
Shape of Dreams heroes stand around a fire
Someone combined Diablo and League of Legends for a roguelike co-op MOBA with Risk of Rain energy, and it deserves the hype it's getting in Steam Next Fest
Die In the Dungeon
This slick roguelike deckbuilder is shoulder-to-shoulder with Balatro and Slay the Spire on Steam top sellers, and its dev is feeling the pressure: "The definition of walking among giants"
Balatro Joker card
Balatro dev says solitaire exists "at the peak of game culture" and was debatably "the most important" inspiration for his poker roguelike
Conjure
With backing from Slay the Spire and Among Us devs, this Steam Next Fest roguelike inspired by an unlikely classic immediately stands out – even if I am a little confused
Latest in News
Ultima Online
As Ultima Online approaches its 28th birthday, former creative lead reveals what it takes for an MMO to last for decades, and why they sometimes fail: "Content does not last forever"
Link and Epona
A Zelda movie is finally happening, but Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto used to adamantly oppose the idea even "if Steven Spielberg himself" wanted to do it
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Stardew Valley
With another "thank you," Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone brings an update arc to a close with "the Switch patch to fix the last Switch patch"
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle
Over 80 countries and 42 days: the first Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie's remarkable staggered release plans have been revealed – including a US date
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds' story is as divisive as expected: some players hate the "relentless on rails handholding," others love the build-up to "the best scene in Monster Hunter history"