Code Vein: Release Date, Trailers, News, and Details

Now that the Dark Souls series is officially complete, Bandai Namco has a hole in their lineup that was previously occupied by a hardcore RPG series with a moody atmosphere and strong action elements. 

While it’s going to be hard for any game to ever completely fill that void, we must say that Bandai Namco’s upcoming action RPG Code Vein looks like it has a chance to fulfill the desires of Dark Souls fans everywhere. 

Here’s everything we know about Code Vein:

Code Vein Release Date

Code Vein has been delayed to 2019 from its original Sept. 28, 2018 release date. The game is coming to PS4, XBO, and PC. 

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Code Vein Trailer

Here’s a new, six-minute trailer:

This next trailer finally gives us a little better look at the game’s world and the characters who call it home. What it really does, though, is double-down on the game’s anime style. Vampires battling each other with blood-based superpowers while rock music blares in the background? Yeah, we’re kind of ready to play this one. 

This next teaser does a nice job of emphasizing the game’s anime inspirations and generally cool vibe. It certainly offers more than enough reasons to keep your eyes on this game in the future. 

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Code Vein‘s E3 2017 trailer showcases that blend of familiar Dark Souls gameplay and anime visuals that previous previews had hinted at. We look forward to seeing more from this promising adventure title. 

While the teaser for Code Vein suggested that it might be a hand-drawn, Dark Souls-esque action RPG starring vampires, the official reveal trailer for Code Vein shows off a slightly different experience. Code Vein still borrows aspects of Dark Souls‘ combat system and RPG elements, but the game’s art style borrows more from the God Hand series with its anime flourishes. 

Code Vein Story

Here’s the official synopsis for the game:

“In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity.”

Code Vein follows the adventures of vampiric entities collectively referred to as The Revenant who have formed an underground post-apocalyptic society. These creatures rely on blood in order to avoid becoming absolute monsters.  

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Code Vein Details

According to an interview in the Japanese magazine Famitsu (translated here by Gematsu), Code Vein is being developed by the same team behind the cult classic God Eater series. Despite the game’s pedigree, producer Keita Iizuka claims that Code Vein is not related to the God Eater series in any direct fashion. 

Instead, Code Vein is described as a “dramatic exploration action RPG.” What that means is that it’s a dungeon crawler action RPG that will emphasize the exploration of connected environments. 

If that sounds like Dark Souls to you, then you’ll be happy to know you’re not being paranoid. The game’s trailer even playfully uses “Prepare to Dine” as a tagline and seemingly respectful nod to that legendary franchise. 

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However, Code Vein does distinguish itself in several interesting ways. Namely, Code Vein will emphasize a “Buddy” system that allows you to take a companion into new areas and develop them alongside your main hero. It also sounds like the game will primarily focus on melee combat, though we will be surprised if there isn’t some magic and ranged combat to be found.

There’s still much we don’t know about Code Vein – including whether it will resemble the style shown in that teaser trailer and which systems it will be released on – but everything revealed thus far suggests it could Bandai Namco’s next great hardcore RPG.