Makoto Shibata Reveals Key Changes in 'Fatal Frame 2 Remake' and Hopes for Series' Future

It's hard to believe it has been almost 26 years since Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly first delighted and terrified gamers.

Ahead of Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake's release next month, Men's Journal caught up with series producer Makoto Shibata to discuss remaking a classic horror game, some significant changes from the original game, and how important sound design is for horror.

Men's Journal: Fatal Frame 2 was originally released in 2003, with a first remake for the Nintendo Wii in 2012. Why remake Fatal Frame 2 again, and why this entry in particular?

Shibata: In recent years, we released two remastered titles, and through the response to those releases, we received a particularly large number of requests from fans asking for Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly. As Fatal Frame 2 is a popular entry in the series, we felt that a simple remaster would not be sufficient. By fully remaking the game, we believed we could create an experience that would also resonate with players who currently can enjoy a wide variety of horror games.

Men's Journal: Fatal Frame 2 is often regarded as one of the scariest games ever made, but for fans who have played Fatal Frame before, will they get a new, equally terrifying experience? What about new players who haven't played Fatal Frame before?

Shibata: This title features an updated game camera that provides a greater sense of immersion than the original. As a result, long-time fans can expect a horror experience that is on par with, or even surpasses, the original. In addition, we adopted a more standard third-person shooter control scheme, allowing new players to enter the world of Fatal Frame naturally and experience its unique sense of horror.

Men's Journal: How did the team approach bringing classic survival horror to the modern era?

Shibata: From a development perspective, we leveraged Koei Tecmo’s proprietary game engine along with the action game development expertise that Team NINJA has cultivated over the years. Using a modern development environment, we recreated the atmosphere of the original Fatal Frame 2 while delivering a significant visual update. The development team also includes members who are fans of the Fatal Frame series, as well as members who worked on the original title. By incorporating their perspectives and ideas, we carefully remade the overall gameplay experience.

Men's Journal: Can you speak about the new gameplay features and what you believe they add to the experience?

Shibata: We've made the biggest changes to the controls and camera perspective. In the original game, fear was often created through camera cuts that switched viewpoints as the player moved through the map, revealing the presence of Wraiths. In this remake, the game uses a continuous third-person perspective with standard TPS controls, eliminating camera cuts. As a result, we reworked the staging and map design to emphasize the fear that comes from players discovering something terrifying on their own. We focused on providing the player with scary experience of seeing something terrifying rather than simply showing something scary. While this creates a slightly different kind of fear, we believe it greatly enhances immersion and the feeling of being present.

Men's Journal: Is there a desire to see Fatal Frame as a modern staple survival horror series, as we've seen with Resident Evil and the resurgence of Silent Hill?

Shibata: Yes, of course. The two series you mentioned are both high-quality modern horror titles with very distinct identities, and they have established a strong presence as remake series. We hope that Fatal Frame can also become a series with that same level of presence and recognition.

Men's Journal: When playing the original game, it can be sometimes difficult to remember who is who and what is going on narratively. Are there any new "story reminders" or a "glossary" that can be accessed by the player?

Shibata: The original version did not place much emphasis on story reminders, but since this game is a full remake, we reworked the system entirely to better suit modern players. The game now clearly displays objectives, making it easy to understand what to do next or what you haven't done yet when resuming gameplay. We have also added a glossary to help players better understand key terms and concepts.

Men's Journal: What, in your opinion, is the biggest addition or change from the original game to this modern remake?

Shibata: The biggest improvement is in controls and overall feel. In previous Fatal Frame titles, controls were not a primary focus, but after receiving feedback for the remaster releases that the controls felt outdated, we revised the design. This was one of the major reasons we chose to do a full remake rather than a remaster. I also think that having Team NINJA work on this game had a significant positive impact in this regard.

Men's Journal: Fatal Frame 2 is the second game in the franchise, but is this remake a good jumping-in point for new players?

Shibata: Even with the original, many players entered the series through Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, so we believe it serves as an excellent entry point. Each title in the series features a standalone story, so players can start from any game in the series. However, the original Fatal Frame 2 stood out by lowering the overall difficulty and placing a stronger emphasis on narrative, allowing many players to reach the ending. In this remake, we offer multiple difficulty options, ranging from easy to challenging, to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for a wide range of players.

Men's Journal: What can players expect in terms of puzzles? Are some different than the original game?

Shibata: The puzzles have been made easier to play, with some added twists, but they remain largely the same. In the Fatal Frame series, puzzles are intended as light interludes rather than major challenges. They serve as moments to understand the setting or take a brief, comforting break. Since the original puzzles fit this role well, we chose to largely preserve them.

Men's Journal: Sound, atmosphere, and tension are key components of a survival horror game. How did the team approach each of those design elements when creating this game?

Shibata: Sound is extremely important in horror. In the original game, the sound design conveyed the presence of Wraiths based on their position, allowing players to sense where they were. In this remake, we support up to 7.1.4 channel spatial audio, enabling players to feel the presence of Wraiths in a much more realistic way. Environmental sounds were also redesigned with 7.1.4 channel audio in mind to better convey the atmosphere. In addition, due to the change in camera perspective, we redesigned the visual presentation of the stages. With a continuous TPS viewpoint and no camera cuts, shadows and areas that feel as though something might be lurking remain constantly in view. To maintain tension, we carefully adjusted lighting and textures so that suspense never breaks.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake will release on March 12, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.