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Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse on Wii has been stuck in limbo for a year now. The game, fourth in Tecmo’s cult horror series, was released in Japan in July of last year… with Nintendo doing the publishing honors. Things were looking up for Fatal Frame fans, as surely the strength of Nintendo’s partnership (not to mention game producer Suda 51) would lift the franchise up to greater heights.

Months ticked by with nary a word on the game’s release in other territories, and in the last few months, the corporate double-talk over who publishes what and where began. Now it seems the plug is finally pulled, as Tecmo has told IGN that the game will not make it to America. Tecmo’s statement to IGN follows.

“Nintendo holds the publishing rights to ‘Fatal Frame Wii,’ which was developed by Tecmo LTD. and Grasshopper Manufacture and released in Japan on July 31, 2008. Nintendo of America has since then decided not to publish the title in North America – consequently, the title will not be released in this territory. As the owner of the IP, Tecmo feels very unfortunate that the fans of the series in North America will not have a chance to play the game, but respects the final decision made by Nintendo of America.”

Reggie Fils-Aime has been taking lumps over this, as he has often been heard either boasting of the Wii’s diversity of content or chiding developers for not taking enough risks with their releases.

Fatal Frame fansite Beyond the Camera’s Lens reports that the off-again on-again European release of Fatal Frame 4 is now off-again as well.

So this raises the question, why does Nintendo not want Fatal Frame 4 outside of Japan? And would Nintendo allow another party to publish the title?

This is like a double-triple Sad Chao for me.

Source: IGN