As expected, Team NINJA has hosted the funeral for horror gamers that everybody was awaiting. Bloody is throwing a complete modern reimagining of one of the most famous horror games ever made, with a full remake of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly to be released in early 2026. Then the icing on the cake is that it will be literally everywhere: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam. No disrespect to any platform, which for me is pretty cool.
The reaction has been… well, let’s just say, very positive. One player commented, “I grew up with this game seeing a remake is so cool,” which pretty much sums up the whole vibe. It isn’t just a remaster-go full-on remake for that one “really scared” title back in the days on PS2.
Now, for anyone unfamiliar with the Fatal Frame games (or Project Zero in some territories), here’s the outline. It’s essentially a survival horror series wherein the player takes on ghosts with the rites of a special camera rather than with conventional weapons. Crimson Butterfly is generally considered the best of the series. The story follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu as they investigate a haunted village. The atmosphere is chill-inducing, and the scares hit home. Like-a-bellyful nightmare kind of scary.
The reactions have been overwhelmingly positive and also funny, the way only gamers can do. Censorship concerns are already being raised, one user stating: “can’t wait to see the censorship!” which, yeah, that is still a thing in horror games. Discussions about a physical version are heating up as well-tourists want to know if they’re ever going to receive a physical release as opposed to just digital codes, especially for Switch 2. One said: “does it have a Switch 2 Physical release? (NOT a game-key card)” which is hilariously telling about what people think of those digital code cards.
And it’s time for the classic “which platform should I buy” discussion. One player is already writing, “hi chat i have ps5 & switch 2 what console do u recommend i get it on,” which will be a thing in less than two years. My preference? All the platforms where you enjoy playing horror games. Some people like to watch horror games on big screen while others like to take it with them for late-night spooky gaming adventures.
It’s crazy the amount of people talking about having their original PS2 copies. One comment is saying, “I still have my original ps2 copy 🥲 I seriously can’t wait for this! This game always scared me more than any other game for ps2” which speaks volumes about what this game meant to people. A genuine nostalgic vibe rather than excitement for something going to be released.
Then there are those interesting debates as to why they decided to remake the second game instead of the first. One user said, “It’s like you said, it’s the popular of the first three Fatal Frame. Majority of the time, I hear people referring to the franchise, they often bring up Crimson Butterfly,” which obviously makes sense. If you’re going to remake one thing, you remake the one everybody loves so much, can’t excite people otherwise.
Then there’s the random yet hilarious “Dead or Alive?! When 😤” comment coming from someone more interested in Team NINJA fighting games than horror. Or the completely 2024 way to ask: “Never played I think, does it cook?”
The international crowd is promptly starting to make an announcement of their presence. One Spaniard exclaimed, “Espero que la canción de Tsukiko Amano se quede, porque el juego no será el mismo sin ella,” which means: “I hope Tsukiko Amano’s song stays, because the game won’t be the same without her.” That tells you how important the original music is to the fans. Another user is desperately craving Portuguese subtitles, which underscores the worldwide attention this announcement has received.
Anything that even suggests a change in character faces might turn spicy with one user asking alongside side-by-side photos: “why did you have to change it?” Always messy discussions with these types of remakes. How much do you go for re-interpretation versus staying true to the originals?
What is clear is that there are huge expectations now placed upon Team NINJA. It’s not just another game launch-this is for a lot of players a childhood favourite on the receiving end of a modern polishing. It’s on now to produce something that’ll do justice to the original whilst making full use of current hardware. Early 2026 feels so far away, but when you consider all the work that properly goes into remakes like this, it just has to be.
The fact that it’s coming to everything is probably unique. No platform exclusivities, no delays on ports; everybody experiences terror at the very same time. And with it hitting the unannounced Switch 2, once again, it’s a sort of confirmation that Nintendo’s next system is real and on the near horizon.
Honestly? One of the most exciting announcements in horror for years. The original Crimson Butterfly was seriously terrifying, meaning that with state-of-the-art graphics and sound? For sure, they are gonna change pants more than once during the playthrough. This wait until 2026 is gonna be painful if NINJA team comes through though, worth every second. Excuse me while I go dig out my PS2 copy, and brush up on why it used to keep me awake with the lights on!
