We're so long overdue

Darkstalkers is a fighting game intellectual property fueled by enticements of sexuality, violence, and dueling demons, and has maintained a status as one of the most recognizable franchises in the FGC despite not having a new entry in over 20 years.

The popularity is obvious as Darkstalkers (also known as Vampire Savior) seems to get at least one character (usually Morrigan) referenced in some capacity in nearly every Capcom title that is in some way related to fighting games. If you're thinking, "maybe it's about time we get another actual Darkstalkers game," you're not alone, and Mike "Mike Z" Zaimont, the lead design director at Lab Zero Games, is interested in pulling the trigger.

We'll start this with a bit of qualification as Zaimont has been known to speak in a bit of a tongue in cheek manner at times, but the core message in a few of his recent Tweets does seem to check out: Lab Zero would like to make a new Darkstalkers game with Capcom.

It's interesting to note that a lot of times when Darkstalkers is brought up, it's done so with a bit of an, "I'm sure this would never actually happen, but it would be great if it did," sort of tone. Perhaps that's simply because it's been so long since we've seen any truly new DS action.

It's almost as though fans are guarding their hearts a bit against the disappointment of not getting what they're requesting but still feel the need to ask simply because of their love for the IP.

It was as recent as EGX last weekend that Capcom's Yoshinori Ono was directly asked during the question and answer portion of a live interview about a new DS game. His response was a playful, "If everyone here throws 10 bucks into a bucket, we can get started on that."



Click to hear Ono on DS at EGX

While this particular franchise may not reach the same levels of popularity as mainstays like Street Fighter or Marvel vs. Capcom, there has to be something to this ongoing, "when's Darkstalkers... just kidding, but not really," sort of half-joke that's been continual in Capcom fan circles for some time now.

Capcom has kept DS very much alive with constant references. You'll find plenty of its characters among the MvC rosters, Street Fighter 5 has seen a good handful of DS crossover costumes, and the digital card game Teppen is littered with Darkstalkers cards and even features Morrigan as one of its eight playable heroes. We also can't forget about the great Puzzle Fighter, which

The company still clearly cares about it, the fans still clearly want it, and now a second development studio (that has certainly proved its mettle) is willing to help work on it. It surely feels like it's time for a new Darkstalkers.

You can see Mike Z's recent comments about the prospect by clicking the thumbnail here:



Click images for larger versions

Will it ever actually happen? Who knows? But if you're one of the seemingly many who really would enjoy delving into a new franchise entry for this oddly-evolved IP, continue to let developers know by expressing your wants on social media, forums, and in articles like this one.

We've been very happy to be able to interface with Hsien-Ko, Dimitri, Lilith, Donovan, via their guest appearances in other fighting titles and puzzle games, but it does appear that we're all but unequivocally overdue for another pure Darkstalkers entry.