Konami today confirmed a delay for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate. Previously expected to launch this fall, the 3DS debut for the whip-cracking action series has been pushed back to an early 2013 release.

Long name, longer development time.

In announcing the delay, producer Dave Cox explained, "It's been two years since the enormous success of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and with this next installment, we want to take the necessary time needed to give fans a handheld title unlike any other."

Stepping back from Dracula's story, Mirror of Fate redirects its focus on the Belmont clan, 25 years after Lords of Shadow's conclusion. Players take on the roles of Trevor and Simon Belmont, as well as Dracula's own son, Alucard. The game will also lead into next year's other Castlevania game, Lords of Shadow 2 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. All three games have Mercury Steam as developer.

For more on Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.