We’re reliving the Japanese horror renaissance from the early ’00s, minus all those years of console exclusivity. During today’s Japan-focused State of Play, Koei Tecmo announced that Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake will launch on March 12, 2026.

That’s excellent news for the folks who spent 1999 through 2005 jumping between numbered Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Fatal Frame games, long before all three series took breaks with spin-offs or went quiet. 2012 marks the last time the horror trio released something more significant than a remaster within the same six months—the year Resident Evil 6, Silent Hill: Downpour, and the Wii-exclusive Fatal Frame 2 remake launched.

Fatal Frame saw a couple of remasters in recent years, but those weren’t quite as extensive as what Koei shared today. And yes, you read that correctly. This is the second remake of the second Fatal Frame, though folks in North America never had the chance to play.

During the State of Play, Fatal Frame series director Makoto Shibata explained the “meticulous” attention to detail that went into recreating new lighting and textures for the fan favorite. He also highlighted how Team Ninja’s action director helped with the remake’s “battle system,” if you can call it that. The Camera Obscura’s core mechanics sound the same, but it’s definitely refined, and perhaps a little scarier?

“The tension from the game from waiting for the ghosts to get closer and closer, then taking the photo at the last second,” said Shibata. “So we preserved this aspect while introducing new elements such as zooming and focusing as if you’re operating an actual camera. We have also included filters, like those found on cameras.”

Shibata also highlighted how those filters “affect what you see,” so swapping between them and experimenting may lead to helpful advantages in battle or exploration—all new tools we didn’t have before. I’m pretty sure Fatal Frame 2’s ‘Woman in Box’ is why I was so afraid of the dark even as I got into high school, so I’m not sure I need any new and creative ways to see her, but I’ll take it.

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