With the likes of Capcom’s Resident Evil series seeing a strong resurgence in recent years, it’s no surprise that fans of the Fatal Frame games are also hopeful for a return sometime in the future. While there’s been little evidence suggesting this could happen, series producer Keisuke Kikuchi assures that the idea of a resurgence has never completely left his thoughts.

According to a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, Kikuchi addressed the recent fervor to bring Fatal Frame back to prominence. As to why entries have failed to release in recent years, the producer explained that Nintendo ultimately has a say whether a new game is made. “Even though I have these hopes, this is a series that Nintendo publishes for us and I only handle the development,” he explained. “So even if I were to say I want to make another game, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what will happen.”

In previous years, Fatal Frame had become a regularly occurring franchise in the horror genre, with games releasing every few years beginning in 2001. The last Fatal Frame game to make it to the west was Maiden of Black Water back in 2015 and while it made for inspired use of the Wii U Gamepad, it wasn’t exactly the best place to leave the series hanging. In the meantime, fans have expressed hope that a remake of Fatal Frame 2 and a Japan-only fourth entry might eventually come to the States, but Kikuchi expressed that this also isn’t something he has control over.

“As for Fatal Frame 2 and 4, Nintendo handles the publishing rights, so we don’t exactly have a say in that matter,” Kikuchi revealed. “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.”

As noted in the interview, Keisuke Kikuchi has expressed a desire to return to Fatal Frame before, the producer finding strong possibilities in the Nintendo Switch’s handheld mode. However, a new entry has still yet to manifest for the hybrid device, which is a real shame considering how hungry the Fatal Frame fanbase has become. On the bright side, Nintendo hasn’t completely left the series alone in recent years, as Yuri Kozukata from Maiden of Black Water appears as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – which is better than nothing, we suppose.

The tragic protagonist of #FatalFrame: Maiden of Black Water, Yuri Kozukata is a new Assist Trophy in Super #SmashBrosUltimate. She can paralyze fighters for a short time with her Camera Obscura, so be careful not to get caught in the shot! pic.twitter.com/voTSDfoSAj

— Nintendo Versus (@NintendoVS) November 9, 2018

What do you think? Are you hopeful that Fatal Frame could make a return, or do you feel that fans shouldn’t hold their breath? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more Nintendo Switch headlines recently featured on DFTG, check out these next few news stories:

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