Poncle Highlights Film Adaptation Hurdles: 'No Plot in Game'

Vampire Survivors developer Poncle has shed light on the challenges of adapting their hit game into a film, originally announced as an animated series. The adaptation, now set to be a live-action film in collaboration with Story Kitchen, faces unique hurdles, primarily due to the game's lack of a traditional narrative. Poncle humorously acknowledged this in a Steam post, stating, "the game has no plot," highlighting the irony and difficulty in creating a compelling film from a game centered around mechanically simple action of defeating hordes of enemies.

Poncle emphasized their cautious approach to the adaptation, preferring to wait for the right partners who could bring good ideas, creativity, and an understanding of the game's unique charm. They noted, "That is a very difficult triplet to get 100% right. Please remember the game has no plot — it doesn't? — so nobody can really anticipate how a film about it is going to be. That is part of what makes it exciting." This uncertainty underscores the creative challenge and excitement surrounding the project, with no release date announced yet.

Vampire Survivors itself is a fast-paced gothic horror game with rogue-lite elements, where player choices can lead to rapid progression against waves of monsters. Initially a modest indie release on Steam, it quickly gained a massive following, becoming one of the most unexpected hits in recent years. Poncle has since enriched the game with numerous updates, now featuring 50 playable characters and 80 weapons, not including the substantial content from the two major expansions and the Ode to Castlevania DLC.

IGN's 8/10 review praised the game, stating, "Need a game to play while listening to podcasts? This is it. Vampire Survivors is outwardly simple but turns out to be an incredibly deep hole to fall down — though it's not without extended dull periods when you get ahead of its curve." This reflects the game's deceptive simplicity and engaging depth, elements that Poncle must navigate in transforming Vampire Survivors into a successful film.