Get ready for an in-depth look at the upcoming Castlevania game during next month’s showcase packed with world premiere reveals.

The Triple-i Initiative, a gaming showcase organized by the team behind Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, is set to return for its third year on April 9. This year’s 45-minute stream promises eight “world premieres,” featuring trailers for titles like Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Windrose, Dead as Disco, and more.

In anticipation of the event, the marketing director and head of business at Evil Empire shared insights on the intricacies of crafting a live gaming showcase, the process of curating world premieres, and the potential for Castlevania to make an appearance this year. While viewers may see a series of game trailers, a significant amount of behind-the-scenes effort ensures the event runs smoothly.

The origins of the Triple-i Initiative trace back to the 2022 Game Awards, where Evil Empire made a splash with the reveal of their Return to Castlevania DLC for Dead Cells. Although they knew their game would be featured, the timing was a surprise. “The champagne was not ready! And the store page was barely ready!” one of the team members recalled.

Inspired by events like E3, the success of their Game Awards moment sparked the idea of hosting their own showcase, especially as they prepared to unveil The Rogue Prince of Persia. With no existing showcase aligning with their timeline, they decided to create their own indie-focused event with a clear mission: “No hosts. No ads. Just games.”

Executing this vision required significant effort. They needed to rally enough developers to create a sense of importance while ensuring the event didn’t feel overcrowded. The goal was to emulate the concise format of a Nintendo Direct rather than the sprawling nature of The Game Awards.

“It’s a really fine line that we’re walking on because we have different parameters to respect,” one team member explained. “We only have around 40 slots available, and with 45 minutes to fill, we receive over 300 submissions, making for some tough decisions.”

The meticulous curation of the 2024 debut show was evident, highlighted by the surprise reveal of Slay the Spire 2, alongside titles like Mouse: P.I. for Hire, Brotato, and Cat Quest 3. The previous year’s showcase also delivered memorable moments, including the reveal of Rematch and trailers for The Alters and CloverPit, which later gained cult status. However, securing these games is just part of the challenge. The team emphasizes that the trailers must be as captivating as the games themselves.

“The first cut we receive from the trailers is crucial,” they noted. “This is where I provide my initial feedback. If it’s a major IP comeback, I often advise not to rush. It’s a live show, and the goal is to emotionally connect with the audience. Memorable moments from big conferences stick with us, and we want to create that same impact for future players.”

While the final trailer quality rests with each developer, the team at Evil Empire recognizes their role in ensuring the trailers resonate during the showcase. They highlighted the importance of pacing during a livestream, which is easier to manage in a focused event compared to longer formats like The Game Awards or Summer Games Fest.

“You wouldn’t believe how much time we spend on the order,” they said. “We need to start and end with a bang, but it’s also about creating strong moments and build-ups that lead to something meaningful. The game shown before needs to connect with the one that follows.”

The arrangement of a showcase can significantly influence its reception. This lesson was learned during last year’s Game Awards, where the finale reveal of Highguard fell short of the high expectations set by rampant speculation. The team agreed that it’s essential to manage audience expectations to prevent disappointment, and strategic trailer placement plays a key role.

“You have to ensure that the audience you’re bringing will resonate with the rest of the lineup,” one member explained. “If you present 11 roguelikes and then showcase a soccer game as the big premiere, the soccer game might not get the reaction it deserves.”

This attention to detail has yielded positive results for developers. Last year, 16 games featured in the showcase made it to Steam’s Top Trending list, with eight titles accumulating over 80,000 wishlists in the week following the event. Collectively, the games averaged 46,000 wishlists, showcasing tangible success for those involved.

As for what’s on the horizon for the 2026 showcase, details remain under wraps. We do know to expect a new look at Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, alongside fresh updates for Risk of Rain 2 and Dead as Disco. Other partners, including Klei Entertainment and TinyBuild, will also make appearances, with more announcements to come. However, it’s wise to keep expectations in check.

“Still no launch date for Silksong,” one team member quipped.

“Still no Half-Life 3 reveal,” the other added.