Horror games are back in vogue. The resurgence of theResident Evilfranchise as a major horror-focused series, a renaissance of indie horror games, and constant speculation regarding franchises likeSilent Hillare proof of the demand. Fittingly, there’s one horror franchise that’s looping around to its 20th anniversary, that beingFatal Frame. Capitalizing on the timing, Koei Tecmo producer Keisuke Kikuchi is teasing that maybeFatal Frameshould be a part of the ongoing conversation next year.
In an interview with Japanese magazine Famitsu, Kikuchi acknowledges that 2021 will be the 20th anniversary of theoriginal release ofFatal Frame. He said that, if it’s possible, he’d like to celebrate that anniversary in some way. This comment alone doesn’t promise anything about a new game necessarily, as he could be implying anything from a special interview, a panel withFatal Frame’s creators, or a new soundtrack rerelease.
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Continuing from there, however,Kikuchi givesFatal Framefans hope. He said, “We’re working hard to announce some titles by spring. We’re developing a wide range of titles, from those currently under adjustment to those with pending names.” This second statement isn’t necessarily connected to the first. However, it wouldn’t be a leap to believe they’re intended to be tied together, which offers a message of hope for the future ofFatal Frame.
One other portion of the interview worth mentioning is a single, “Keyword for 2021.” The interviewer only asked three questions, those being “Ambitions for 2021,” “What’s New,” and this keyword for 2021. Kikuchi’s chosen word was “Rebuild.” Bringing back theFatal Framefranchise on its 20th anniversary would certainly fit with that keyword, but even ifFatal Frameisn’t meant to be included, it’s clear thatKoei Tecmo has big plansmoving forward.
It almost sounds crazy to say that aFatal Framegame could be made in 2020. The franchise was never particularly large compared to othermainstream horror series, and most of its games often struggle with middling reviews. Regardless, it’s still very well known, and the horror game series with cameras deserves to be rebuilt, as Kikuchi may have implied.
Whether or not Koei Tecmo is already working on anewFatal Framegame,Fatal Framefans should take this opportunity to remind Koei Tecmo they’re out there. If a game isn’t already being made, Koei Tecmo could potentially be persuaded. TheFatal Frameseries' 20th anniversary may be the best opportunity to do that, so perhaps fans will hear more about Koei Tecmo’s plans in 2021.
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