Last October, the series producer of Fatal Frame, Keisuke Kikuchi, said he'd be open to revisiting this horrifying IP.
Now, in a follow-up exchange, he's explained as much as he personally would like to see another game happen, ultimately it's Nintendo's decision, as it has the publishing rights to the series.
even though I have these hopes, this is a series that Nintendo publishes for us and I only handle the development. So even if I were to say I want to make another game, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what will happen.
So what are the chances of remasters based on games like Fatal Frame 2 and Fatal Frame 4 appearing on the Switch in the near future? Again, it's up to Nintendo.
As for Fatal Frame 2 and 4, Nintendo handles the publishing rights, so we don’t exactly have a say in that matter. Another factor would be is that I’m basically overseeing the Gust brand at this moment, and to secure production lines and team members, in the short-term it would also be very difficult, but in the long run I’ve never really given up the idea. So in the short-term it’s not exactly realistic at the moment.
The Fatal Frame games started out on the PlayStation 2 in 2001, and the most recent entry was released on the Nintendo Wii U in 2014.
Would you like to see the return of this scary series? Tell us down below.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 73
The only game in the series I've played was the Wii edition of the second game and I never made it far due to being pretty bad with horror games. I'd probably give the series another try if it came to the Switch though, seemed fun from what I did manage to get through.
Come on Nintendo, show Fatal Frame some love.
Come on Ninty. Please
Loved black water on wiiu.
There is a rumor about Mafia 2 rated for the switch.. not the best news considering it was released back 2011. GTA iv or v could've been more welcoming news though.
Black Water on Wii U were damn good.
It should be ported to Switch to get into a bigger market.
Would love to see Maiden of Blackwater on Switch, and of course the next game in the series.
@Ventilator I'm in the camp that missed it due to it being on Wii U, despite actually owning a Wii U. Just never felt like playing the system even for games I was interested in but on Switch I'd be keen.
Oh, a Project Zero 4 remaster and Maiden of Black Water port is all, that I need.
I've got to say, I love Nintendo and absolutely love this series, but I'm not happy at all that Nintendo is the company with the publishing rights, because they seem very uninterested in giving it the push they ought to worldwide.
Give us remasters of all the games on Switch, Nintendo, along with a new game.
I've always wanted to get into them. Always passed.
Now I would even buy a wii u copy today to experience it.
This was truly a scary game!!!!
They should do a Platinum and crowdfund or take a cash injection from elsewhere. For a series like Fatal Frame, it’s a shame having to rely on Nintendo to publish since they’re notoriously stingy outside their own big series. If they buy their own right to publish, hopefully it would sell given that a lot of people missed out since it was on Wii U.
@nessisonett Um, Platinum was allowed to make the Wonderful 101 remaster by Nintendo. In fact, Nintendo was also very supportive of them porting the game to other storefronts, since the original game didn't perform so well on the WiiU. So no, Nintendo isn't particularly stingy. It's all about circumstance.
perfect plan
@patbacknitro18 Nintendo literally don’t care about series that won’t make them the big bucks. That’s why there’s no F-Zero, Mother, Sin and Punishment etc on Switch. Their output as a publisher has gone from massively varied in the Cube and Wii days to rather plain in comparison.
@nessisonett Dude, F-Zero would make them A TON of money. Do you know what else would make them a ton of cash? Porting over Mother 3, or remastering any of the Mother games. Nintendo doesn't do things based on money, the WiiU is UNDENIABLE proof of that. Because as we all know, Starfox Zero and Paper Mario Color Splashs game designs were based soley on what fans would want, making them boat loads of cash.
Iove a bit of fatal frame, me.
I would love them to make another or even port the Wii U game (uncensored of course) but it appears to be one of the series Nintendo has that they consider very niche as shown with their non-existent push of the Wii U game. It's a shame as it adds much needed variety to the Nintendo catalogue.
Really good ghostly horror - not everyone can handle.
@nessisonett Please, google information on how many projects Nintendo is behing in the Switch era and you will understand that your facts are false. In fact, they are completely the opposite. It would be nice if the next time you complain you've done some research first.
I would love for a Fatal Frame Collection for Switch with Gyro Controls. Please Nintendo- make these games and future chapters happen. Don’t let this series die like Silent Hill did... I want some creepy crawlies on my Switch real bad!
I only ever played the first game on the PS2..absolutely loved it and id be thrilled to bits if we got the rest of the series on the Switch!
As long as it's physical they will sell...
I'd like to give this series a proper try. I downloaded the free to start chapters of Fatal Frame V: Maiden of Black Water on the Wii U and enjoyed what I played, but I never got the full game. It was a digital only release in North America, and I didn't have the space.
If Nintendo wants to branch out with genre's for the Switch, Fatal Frame's the best place to start, unless they want to do something with Eternal Darkness.
@BenAV There is one drawback if it were ported as you would lose some of the controls.
Wii U version became more scary as the camera itself were the touch pad using motion controls as you feverishly had to point it correctly etc. This worked quite well and made the game more scary.
Same for Splinter Cell Blacklist. I own it on other systems, but had by far best controls on Wii U as Sam's gadget were the touch pad, but the touch pad were also the drone controlled separately from TV Screen. Just wonderful how it were done.
Rayman Legends weren't as cool on Switch either due to lack of proper Murphy controls.
A bunch of games had very good second screen implementation.
@Ventilator As long as they can workaround it and adapt it to a single screen then that's still fine. Worthy sacrifice for being able to play in handheld, which I find more intimate, immersive and scary than playing on the TV.
@BenAV There is a workaround, but the game weren't designed for single screen.
Also. This game should not be played in portable mode. It's best with home cinema surround sound as there is loads of scary sounds and atmosphere in this game. The scary sounds is half of this game.
Fatal Frame IV could be remastered for the Switch, and then a new entry should follow
@Ventilator yeah, that’s one of the reasons why I believe Fatal Frame IV should be ported instead of Maiden of Black Water. The last one was so immersive and unique because of the Gamepad.
yes, please. i have been waiting for another fatal frame game for ages now, loved 2 and 5 a lot. at least they should do western release of 4 or a new one. and i think the switch is perfect as camera obscura
@Ventilator Handheld with headphones on and the lights off is the best way for me to play any horror game if I want atmosphere.
@BenAV Yes, but you won't get scary sounds in front or behind you.
Headphones is still better than internal speakers on Switch anyway.
Yes please let this series return. Taking pictures to beat ghost seems to fit the switch in handheld mode perfectly
Also think the last lead of the franchise was an assist trophy in ultimate right
@Ventilator I'm definitely happy to sacrifice that for what would be a much more enjoyable experience for me overall.
@Edu23XWiiU Exactly. The Touch gamepad as camera and surround sound is what made it as scary as it could be.
The most scary part in the game were the wonderful sound atmosphere and sound effects to scare you.
Black Maiden on Wii U is my favourite scary game.
Except Zelda we havend had a BIG AAA Mature title on Switch from Nintendo.
At least not one that we havent seen on older systems...
Its kind of sad if you think about the success of the console...
Don't know why, but this got me to thinking about Geist on the Gamecube. I wish Nintendo would give that another go round. I think it could be really good. And I mean, they had the Mario Hat mechanic, so why not? haha
Love the Fatal Frame series. I like to think of it as Luigi's Mansion for an older audience. And with the Poltergust being replaced by a camera.
Nintendo like Sega, Konami, and Capcom, had a truckload of fantastic IPs they themselves could had utilize and choose not to. Even if you can't make a new entry in the series, at the very least remastered the first five games for your modern audience. We can take it.
Guess we won’t be seeing this then
I'd love to see more Fatal Frame. Either an original entry or a HD remaster of the Wii release that never left Japan.
It was awesome on wii u. Definitely one of my favourite wii u games
Perhaps if/when Nintendo's publishing rights expire, they can find other means to release the games on other platforms.
Nintendo needs to give this series a big worldwide push with a new game.
It could fill the void left by Silent Hill and be in the same ballpark as Resident Evil.
Remember, when Nintendo finally gave Fire Emblem a big push with Fire Emblem: Awakening, the series absolutely exploded.
Fire Emblem was always roughly on the same level as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest in Japan, and it finally reached the same level worldwide with the popularity of that game.
@nessisonett Nintendo not making anymore Mother games is honoring their creator Shigesato Itoi's wishes. He was exceptionally close was the late Satoru Iwata who did not want to create a new game in the franchise without Itoi. Mother 3 not coming over has been leaked that NOA was investigating it, but due to some "sensitive content" would require them censoring Itoi's work which they don't want to do. NOA clearly know of the fan-translation which is done by an industry professional Clyde "Tomato" Mandelin. Mandelin has even said if Nintendo ever asked he'd take it down or if they ever wanted to use it he'd freely give it to them free of charge.
So it's not a case of it being unprofitable, but other reasons why Nintendo has not worked on Mother. So it's a content issue and a lack of interest on Itoi's part to pursue a release of Mother 3 or develop Mother 4. It's not a lack of interest in the franchise as Earthbound and Earthbound Beginnings/Zero have been re-relased very recently.
So to simplify.
1) Iwata support of Itoi on not making anymore games.
2) Itoi not feeling like he has an idea for the 4th game.
3) Mother 3 not being translated officially due to sensitive content. Even though there is an already finished and professionally done translation that they're free to use.
Source :
https://www.dualshockers.com/mother-4-is-totally-impossible-says-shigesato-itoi/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/02/nintendo_allegedly_cancelled_localisation_of_mother_3_due_to_its_controversial_aspects
https://kotaku.com/mother-3s-fan-translators-say-nintendo-can-have-their-476597398
The people who develop Luigi Mansion should develop Fatal Frame. The old Fatal Frame developers had their shot.
I still have to play Maiden of Black Water. Regardless I would love a new entry or a port of a previous title. Preferrably both
I wish they made another entry, along with a remaster of every game in the series. Bring it on, Nintendo! Switch is begging for games like these.
@BenAV
I passed on it because it was digital only.
They really need to do a 1-4 collection and re-release 5 with multiple improvements.
Day one, baby!
@yuwarite Unless Nintendo sell away the Fatal Frame rights back to Tecmo 100%, I don't see the series going multiplat any time soon. Tecmo is lucky they still had 20% stake in the franchise but that's only there if they want to do other things with the franchise outside of the game series.
What's Fatal Frame? We're not all American.
It would certainly be nice to see a new Project Zero, or a proper localisation of 4.
hopefully they dont censor it again like they did with the wii u version.
Ooh oooh ooooh yea!!! Please please gimme more Fatal Frame games! I bothered to set up an external drive to play the one for the WiiU and I really enjoyed it immensely. I would love the chance to replay that or to play any others!
The question is: "İs there anyone bringing the idea to Nintendo's attention?" While we'd all love to get a Fatal Frame for switch it's not nearly as much a priority as BOTW2 MP4 Bayo3 and No More Heroes 3 since these are the biggest titles trending as we speak, as well as the potentially eventual possibility of P5.
One thing I know for a fact is that Japan has absolutely zero clue what's going on with fans globally because nothing is being mentioned to them. I realized this awhile back when Katsuhiro Harada said he was blown away by the demand for Kazama Kiryu as a Tekken 7 guest character because "he had no clue Western gamers even knew about the character". This made it plain as day guys. İf we want it, we gotta make Japan know we exist! 😅
@retro_player_77 True, the best thing they should do is, just make a new franchise, that's a spiritual successor and takes the same concepts, but make it multiplatform this time.
C'mon Nintendo! Now is the perfect time to rerelease them on Switch! We need Fatal Frame!
@SwitchForce Such a stupid comment. Physical or not it will sell. I hope that they end up releasing it it’s digital only. That will teach ya. Sometimes companies can’t come up with funds to release physical and it makes more sense to launch digital. Better start weening of physical media. The future is digital and it’s glorious!!!
I love the Fatal Frame games. I have Project Zero on Wii and Wii U and would love to see the games on Switch. A remaster of the Wii Project Zero 2 could work well.
I knew that Nintendo has publishing rights for 2 Wii Edition, 4 and 5 (and the 3DS "game") but I am not sure that Nintendo has the publishing rights for the others and I believe Koei Tecmo owns (or co-owns) the franchise. That said, Nintendo doesn't seem interested in any franchise that doesn't print money, unfortunately. They are way too greedy. If Nintendo has the publishing rights they expire eventually and I hope that all games are made available on current/next-gen consoles. Hopefully.
My opinion? Project Zero/Fatal Frame is the best survival horror franchise because it's all about psychological horror and the camera obscura is the perfect tool. Also, the stories and games are focused.
One tip, if you play the Wii U entry stand up for battling ghosts. If you do not like lazy reviewers and players then battles can be a bit cumbersome.
@nessisonett That sounds like a great idea, a crowdfunding campaign for buying all the needed rights. If we support the developer they'll be able to do what they want to do and not depend on Nintendo.
@TeddySwolesevelt I remember the only reason why Maiden of Black Water was released outside Japan was because all fans were asking for it on Miiiverse, Twitter, etc. So yeah, complaining and requesting works.
Does Nintendolife have a predominantly American readership these days?
@BlueOcean Absolutely! Old saying goes "closed mouths don't get fed"
I would EASILY throw money down on this if they came out with a collection for the 5 main games. Sadly I didn't get to play 4 or 5 and when I heard that it wasn't coming to North American audiences, I was hurt. I have the original 3 for my PS2 and I play them over and over again...not so much now, since I'm terrified to wear the disks out (I know, it's weird to think, but...I don't want to take that risk) and I would jump at the chance to get the collection of them on my new Switch. I LOVE this series, absolutely LOVE it, and would throw money at Nintendo in a heartbeat for the collection. Nintendo, if you are reading this, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, I'm begging you, release a collection of the 5, and even produce another one made for the switch; and I will gladly had you my money and even thank you for taking it lol.
@nessisonett Mother isn't being made because Itoi doesn't want to, not because of Nintendo
Tecmo could always make another new entry without the help of Nintendo. Nintendo owns the publishing rights of select titles but not the franchise. But like he said, it's not feasible at least in the short-term.
Contradicting myself, AFAIK Nintendo CO-owns the IP to an extent but I'm not sure if they still have a say with new entries or spin-offs or whatnot. Can anyone confirm any of this?
always wanted fatal frame on wii u. sadly, i never saw a sale price.
Please release for Nintendo switch!!
FATAL FRAME 4 NINTENDO SWITCH !!
The issue here is that if Nintendo base the saleability of this game on the Wii U sales, then it will never happen.
Nintendo completely destroyed this games chance of ever being popular, especially in the west; by having a (very) limited physical release and charging extortionate amount for a download of the game.
As such the Wii U version did not sell well at all.
And this is Nintendo... they don't see themselves being the cause of a failure as their fault, they always blame the customers for not showing support. Even though the reality is that they put an almost unreachable ticket price on these things.
And they still don't see that as an issue, as they are still doing it with their own 'in-house' developed titles.
According to a price watch website I use; none of the Nintendo developed titles for Switch have ever had a price drop since their releases. Even launch titles.
Not only that but Nintendo have put a restriction on other stores selling codes for their software, in that they are the same price as the eShop, or not for sale at all.
Personally, I feel that this is extremely similar to their 'unethical' monopoly scandal way back in time.
Why should I pay £60 for the digital download of a game, plus the cost of having to buy a microSD card, when I can get the physical cartridge of the same game for half (or less) of the eShop price?
I'd absolutely love to have Animal Crossing as a 'permanent install' on my Switch, ready to play straight away. But, it's more economical for me to get the cartridge.
Nintendo's pricing scheme is counter intuitive to their claims that the Switch's cartridges cost so much to produce.
If that were true, then the eShop prices should be way lower.
Hype, misdirection, deception and greed; that's Nintendo in a nutshell.
I love the company, and it's products... but as a paying customer; I can't help but feel ripped off by them regularly.
Especially with the amount of 'free' review samples they keep throwing out at people.
Sometimes it feels as if we; the paying fans, are being charged for those 'free' copies, as well as all the other items they usually post to the reviewers.
Yes, maybe I am a little bitter so many people get free stuff from Nintendo. But why shouldn't I be? After all, they expect me to pay their inflated prices without reducing the prices over time, and then thank them for the privilege.
Sorry, I ranted there.
All hail Nintendo! Our malevolent gaming overlords.
@BenAV wait it only says 2 and 4 and even 5????.
But what about 1 and 3 and the PS2 version of Crimson Butterfly. I am sure those could come without any approval from Nintendo right?
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