Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is coming sooner than expected, and here’s everything we know about the big surprise return of Koei Tecmo’s classic Japanese horror franchise so far.
The Camera Obscura returns in this deep remake of the 2003 classic, which includes a visual overhaul, better controls, new gameplay elements, and reworked audio and music. While it appears Koei Tecmo is sticking close to the original game, we can infer from the trailers alone that it’s a stronger effort than most remasters (though we also believe that term is poorly defined these days). In any case, this Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is looking fantastic, so we’ve dug up all the details you should know ahead of its Q1 2026 launch.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Release Date
Koei Tecmo confirmed the release date for Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake shortly after the exciting initial announcement:
- Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake release date: March 12, 2026
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Story
Though it remains to be seen if the story will get any major changes, the original Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly followed twin sisters Mio and Mayu Amakura, who are trapped in a village full of ghosts that was cursed by a ritual they need to re-enact.
The player controls Mio, who’s looking for Mayu and can “fight” the ghosts thanks to the famous Camera Obscura, the signature “weapon” of the Fatal Frame franchise. Without getting into more spoilers, the game also features multiple endings based on several actions, so it’ll be interesting to see whether the developers expand on that front too.
And if you needed an answer regarding its relation to Project Zero: They’re the same series. Project Zero has traditionally been the European and Australian title, though that seems to be dropped now in favor of one single English translation of Zero (零) in Japan.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Gameplay
Though the Fatal Frame series presents itself as a straightforward single-player survival horror at first glance, it has a number of unique features that have given it an enduring popularity.
Chief among them is the aforementioned Camera Obscura, which in this game allows Mio to fight back with perfectly focused and well-timed shots. The ‘Fatal Frame’ is triggered when the player manages to strike at the perfect moment. This attack stuns and interrupt most ghostly enemies. If the Fatal Frame lands, Fatal Time is activated; during this short period of time, several shots in quick succession inflict more damage.
Filters and the zoom ability also allow the Camera Obscura to deal damage to enemies from safer distances or attack several of them at once. Additionally, the developers are teasing a few more gameplay features, like the ability to hold Mayu’s hand to recover health and spirit power. At the same time, Mayu will often be in desperate need of Mio’s physical help. On top of everything, there’s a charm system (yet to be fully explained) that will stack new benefits on top of Mio’s regular skills.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Price and Platforms
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is confirmed to launch at the same time on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
The Standard Edition is selling for $49.99, with the Deluxe Edition packing extra digital content at $64.99:
Both editions also have access to pre-order bonuses if players buy the game before its March 12, 2026, launch. Moreover, “early purchase bonuses” will be available for everyone who buys it before March 25, 2026. Here’s a quick rundown of both content packs:
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake pre-order bonuses:
- Accessories Cat Ears (White) Cat Ears (Black)
- Costumes Crimson Butterfly - Mio (Original) Crimson Butterfly - Mayu (Original)
- Other Spirit Charm
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake early purchase bonuses:
- Accessories Peony Hair Ornament (Red) Peony Hair Ornament (Blue)
- Costumes Kimono (Red) Kimono (Black)
- Other Wraith Charm
Keep in mind the pricing of the physical editions of the game might vary. On the other hand, it appears the game will be selling at the same price across all platforms.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Trailers
Two Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake trailers have been released so far. You can watch them right here (and stay tuned for more as we approach the launch):
For the latest gaming news, follow GameWatcher on BlueSky, check out our videos on YouTube. We sometimes include affiliate links in our posts, which grants us a small commission, thank you. Please support independent Games Media. ❤️
