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Castlevania: Nocturnes second season released last weekend, and critics and fans are over the moon about it. Thats not surprising; from the very beginning, both the original Castlevaniaand this spinoff have garnered acclaim for its writing and animation, and for successfully adapting the games to television. This is reflected in the viewership; Netflix hasnt put out any numbers or milestones, but fans and Powerhouse Animation staff have shared screenshots of the show hitting the top 10 in territories like the United States and the Philippines, which theyre more than proud of. Whatissurprising is how, at time of writing, Nocturnes future is more unclear than youd expect. Late last year, Powerhouse said itd go dark ahead of the second seasons debut as it waited to learn if the show would be renewed, and individuals at the studio have pretty explicitly called on fans to watch the new season. By comparison, Netflix announced renewals for the original Castlevania just days after a season had launched. (Season four, for example, was greenlit a full year ahead of season threes release.) Whether that series already had a four-season deal locked in, or they were actually just two seasons split across multiple parts, you at least got the impression the streamer saw something in it and wanted to foster that. By now, Netflix is more than aware that Castlevaniais a flagship brand for its animation slate, and that Powerhouses name carries some weight. The studios proven to be a reliable partner, and these two adaptations have benefitted both studio and streamer. For Powerhouse, the show has let it adapt other properties like Masters of the Universe and Tomb Raider, plus tackle original ventures Seis Manos and Blood of Zeus. Meanwhile, Netflix has managed to use Castlevanias clout to snag other franchises under its umbrella, from League of LegendstoCyberpunk 2077andBioShock.Even its general focus on YA and adult animationJentry Chau,Big Mouth, and whatever elseand anime can be traced back to how the originalCastlevaniablew up back in 2017. For an enterprise thats played such a hand in the new boom of game adaptations, and from a streamer thats previously franchised out hits right away, the entire situation aroundCastlevania: Nocturnesmore than a little odd. Netflix Yknow what else is strange? Konami not responding to the Castlevaniahype by not having much of anything game-related on hand. After 2014s Lords of Shadow 2, the series has basically been on ice, save for recent remasters and crossover expansions with Dead CellsandVampire Survivors. As Konamis been getting back into the game development swing with remakes and new games for Silent HillandMetal Gear Solid,theres been nothing concrete about its vampiric franchise making a full-on comeback. We know game adaptations bring attention to their source material and lead to people picking up those games, for the first or tenth time. Its certainly a missed opportunity to not jump on the momentum of these two animated series with a game project, or even an announcement that somethings in the worksfans were clamoring for a new Castlevaniagame even before the show dropped, so its not like Konami was completely in the dark here. Again, the collective lack of support from both sides ofCastlevania is weird when you think about its overall significance. The games were beloved for decades and helped spawn an entire genre that persists to this day, while the shows kicked off the new wave of transmedia enterprises Hollywood is very keen on continuing. Before we know it, that original Netflix series will be a decade old, and itll feel wrong for it to have made strides for one medium, but not the one it originated in. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.