The Touhou Project is in a period of major official expansion, with the first console remake of a classic game, a new doujin circle dedicated to modern ports, and a summer collaboration with a major amusement park all announced in June 2026.
June 2026 brought a wave of announcements that mark a shift in how the Touhou Project reaches its audience. The most significant is the formation of Shanghai Alice Reprise, a new doujin circle created by ZUN and AQUA STYLE representative JYUNYA, dedicated to making Touhou games playable on modern systems. Its first project, Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic, is a full remake of the 2002 bullet hell shooter Touhou Koumakyou, announced during a June 9 Nintendo Direct broadcast. The remake upgrades the original to 1080p resolution with fully rearranged BGM by ZUN, includes a Classic Mode that reproduces the 2002 game faithfully, and adds new features like a player hitbox display and a boss position marker. It launches September 10 on PC via Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The original game had become unplayable on modern Windows due to frame rate issues. A programmer from AQUA STYLE independently created a Switch-compatible version, which ZUN saw and called amazing, leading to the full remake project.
Alongside the remake, other developments show the series' doujin roots remain active. Developer shar announced Touhou Gaiden, a doujin action game set between the old and current Touhou Project series, blending aesthetics from Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania with bullet hell boss battles. Circles Rain Theory and Kaisendou announced Touhou Sosenkyo ~ Land of Oracular Zeitgeist, a derivative danmaku battle game for PC via Steam, with a 2026 release window. The doujin dungeon RPG Touhou Artificial Dream in Arcadia sold over 100,000 units across PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS4/PS5. BEEP Akihabara Store listed a set of five classic Touhou Project PC-98 titles for 2.5 million yen in a lottery sale.
The series also expanded into physical spaces. Touhou Project and Yomiuri Land announced a summer collaboration event titled 'Hakurei Shrine Summer Festival 2026 in Yomiuri Land' from June 20 to August 23, 2026, featuring exclusive merchandise, a puzzle-solving game, themed food, and workshops. Steam Bullet Hell Fest 2026 launched with discounts on multiple Touhou Project titles. In a reader poll, Sakuya Izayoi from Touhou Project took second place in Anime Anime's annual time-related character survey, holding the same position as the previous year.
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Shanghai Alice Reprise released a bonus text video on YouTube on October 10 in which original creator ZUN looks back on the setting notes from Touhou Koumakyou. The text data, viewable from the PC install in 2002, is not bundled in the remake Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic, which is available on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Steam. ZUN says the extra story and character introductions appear only in the video.
The digital distribution service Number Nine has started handling Touhou Project derivative works under official permission from Team Shanghai Alice. Works that mix in derivative content from other properties are not eligible. A campaign tied to the launch pays creators up to 85% instead of the usual 75%, applied through the end of March 2027. New registrations are accepted from October 2, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
Game Spark reviewed Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic, the remake of the 2002 danmaku shooter. The release includes a rebuilt New Classic version and a Classic version reproducing the original, plus a Challenge Mode with no game overs, hitbox display, and enemy markers. Good endings still require five or fewer misses, so the series demand to improve remains. A Spell Practice mode lets players rehearse cleared boss spell cards.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on October 5 that the Touhou Project x Taiko no Tatsujin 2026 collaboration will run in the arcade version of Taiko no Tatsujin from October 22 to January 11, 2027. Two songs are added: an arranged track by the circle Tamaonsen, and a Namco original arranged from Hartmann's Youkai Girl. Bandai Namco Passport holders earn tickets per qualifying play toward petite characters and plate titles.
BookLive announced on October 1 that its Crossfolio Publishing service will distribute Touhou Project derivative fan comics as commercial e-books with the approval of original creator Team Shanghai Alice. Submissions opened the same day and cover book-format works including comics, illustration collections, novels, picture books, and photo books. Creators receive up to a 75 percent royalty rate, raised to 80 percent for the first year on works registered by November 3.
Touhou Yaoyorozu Shoten announced goods for the Touhou Project x Tokyo Tower event, which runs from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, November 1, 2026 at Tokyo Tower. The lineup includes acrylic figures of nine characters at 2,530 yen each, matching acrylic multi keyholders at 880 yen, two large totes at 1,980 yen, and a nine-type chibi acrylic keyholder collection at 400 yen per item or 3,600 yen per box. A quiz rally, collaboration food and drinks, and a panel exhibition are also planned.
Alter showed its anime and game figure lineup at Mega Hobby EXPO 2026, held Saturday, September 26, 2026, at AKIBA_SQUARE in Akihabara, Tokyo. The anime side includes Nadia from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Kasugano Sora -Elegant China Style- from Yosuga no Sora, and Shalltear Bloodfallen so-bin Ver. from Overlord. The game side includes Saber 20th Anniversary Ver. from Fate/stay night, Emma Sakuwa Key Visual Ver. from Mahou Shoujo no Majo Saiban, and three Touhou Project figures: Alice Margatroid, Yukari Yakumo, and Aya Shameimaru. Dengeki Hobby Web also lists uncolored prototypes of Remilia Scarlet, Flandre Scarlet, and Yuuka Kazami from the non-scale chibi figure series Arcana Chibi Kore. The outlet split its coverage into two reports (anime and game editions) and said other exhibitors showed items that will be covered separately, with a roundup page collecting all of it.
Shanghai Alice Reprise published a statement on its official X account about generative AI use in Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic, the remake released September 10 for PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Windows. The studio says the title uses commercially available assets and partially uses AI features built into production tools, with staff finishing the work. The Steam discussion board holds 118 comments on the question.
Good Smile Company has scheduled re-releases of Nendoroid Reimu Hakurei 2.0 and Nendoroid Marisa Kirisame 2.0 for February 2027, each priced at 6,800 yen including tax. Both are non-scale painted plastic figures about 100mm tall, sculpted by JUN (E.V.) with Nendoron handling production. Reimu ships with three face plates plus purification rod and ofuda parts; Marisa includes broom, grimoire, mini hakkero, and Master Spark effect parts.
Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic, developed by Shanghai Alice Reprise and released by Alliance Arts on September 10, 2026, drew 1,732 Steam reviews within half a day, 98 percent of them positive, for an Overwhelmingly Positive rating. Steam Scout data shows 41.58 percent of reviews in English and 28.73 percent in Simplified Chinese, with positive rates of 99 percent and 98 percent.
Alliance Arts released Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. on September 10 for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. The game is a modern remake of the 2002 bullet hell shooter Touhou Koumakyou, led by original creator ZUN, and marks the first official Touhou Project shooting game on console platforms. It includes a New Classic version with high-resolution graphics and all BGM rearranged by ZUN, plus a Classic version that reproduces the 2002 game as faithfully as possible. The Classic version can inherit replays and save data from the original ver1.02h. New features include a Spell Practice mode and an unlimited lives mode for newcomers. The standard edition costs 1,990 yen, and a deluxe edition with a digital sound player app is 2,966 yen. The original source code was lost, so a programmer from the doujin circle AQUA STYLE independently analyzed the game and built a Switch version, which became the project's starting point. A DVD backup found at ZUN's home helped recreate character portraits. The New Classic version also supports 4K resolution.
Shanghai Alice Reprise representative JYUNYA announced on September 9 that the Classic version included with Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic supports transferring replays and save data from the original 2002 release of Touhou Koumakyou. The compatible data comes from version 1.02h of the original game. JYUNYA stated that all replays and save data can be carried over, despite the Classic version being a separately reproduced title. The Classic version also adds a replay fast-forward function and a key configuration option to select the confirm button, a change made with console versions in mind. Alliance Arts released Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam on September 10. The standard edition costs 1,990 yen, while the deluxe edition costs 2,966 yen and includes a digital sound player app. The New Classic version features recreated graphics and music, with all BGM arranged by ZUN. The Classic version reproduces the 2002 game as faithfully as possible, including its user interface and character portraits.
Mebius will release the Nintendo Switch physical version of the Touhou Project fan-made RPG Touhou Shoujo Sousou Tan on October 29. The game features eight playable characters and pixel art. A limited edition includes a setting materials collection and a newly drawn acrylic stand.
Game Spark's weekly roundup lists games releasing in Japan and North America from September 7 to 11. Headliners include Valheim on September 9 across multiple platforms, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV with Power Up Kit Complete Edition on September 10. The list also features Halloween: The Game, a Touhou arrangement, and HOT WHEELS Infinite Rush.
Team Shanghai Alice, the circle behind the Touhou Project, reminded fans on September 4 that publicly releasing the endings of the original games is prohibited under its derivative works guidelines, just days before the September 10 launch of the remake Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic. The reminder came via the official Shanghai Alice Reprise X account, which posted links to the Guidelines for Posting to Video Distribution Services and the Touhou Project Derivative Works Guidelines. These guidelines were not changed for this release, but they explicitly list acts of publicly releasing original game endings as prohibited. Under the video distribution guidelines, streaming by individual players is generally treated as fan activity and faces no major restrictions, yet the ending restriction still applies. Players who plan to stream or post Let's Play videos are advised to keep ending segments out of their broadcasts or cut them through editing. The remake updates the 2002 Windows Touhou Koumakyou with high-resolution graphics, fully rearranged music by series creator ZUN, a new Life Infinite Mode for less experienced players, and a Classic Version that reproduces the original game. The game launches September 10 on PC via Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
AmiAmi and Reverse Studio are taking preorders for three Touhou Project figures based on newly drawn art by illustrator STAR Kageboushi. The art shows child versions of Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame, and the line is called Reverse Palm Spirit. Each single figure is a painted PVC and ABS finished product. Reimu stands about 150mm tall including her base, and Marisa about 180mm. The individual figures carry a reference price of 12,100 yen including tax, with AmiAmi selling them at 10,890 yen. A set containing both figures is priced at 20,900 yen reference and 18,810 yen at AmiAmi. Each single comes with a bonus acrylic keychain of its character, and the set adds a dedicated bonus base plus a keychain set. All three items are scheduled for release in November 2027, and preorders are open now at AmiAmi.
Phoenixx released the Touhou fan-made deck-building roguelike card game Touhou: Lost Branch of Legend for Nintendo Switch on August 27, 2026. The Switch version is a port of Touhou Kouyouya ~ Lost Branch of Legend, which is available on Steam. The game is priced at 3,500 yen, with a 20 percent launch discount bringing it to 2,800 yen until September 9 at 23:59 Japan time. The story follows Reimu Hakurei and other residents of Gensokyo as they investigate the theft of the treasure Hourai no Tamayoribako, which was stolen during an exhibition hosted by moon princess Kaguya Houraisan. Players choose from five characters: Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame, Sakuya Izayoi, Cirno, and Koishi Komeiji. Each character has two battle styles, and players build a deck by acquiring and strengthening cards that match their chosen style. The roguelike structure changes the path with each run, and the game includes over 450 card types and over 100 exhibit enhancement items. Players also face events such as encounters with Gensokyo residents, shopping at shops, and battles against rivals who use their own spell cards. A playable demo and clear file giveaway are planned at the Atsumare Touhou Station in Chichibu event on August 29.
At LostWord LIVE 2026, held May 16 at KT Zepp Yokohama, parent-child tickets sold out completely. The audience mixed young smartphone game players, longtime core fans, and families. Performers included Kishida Kyoudan & THE Akeboshi Rockets, A-One, and Alstroemeria Records. The writer observed children waving penlights alongside veteran fans, suggesting Touhou is becoming a common language across generations.
Shanghai Alice Fantasy Band, the doujin circle behind the Touhou Project series, announced on August 13 that it will revise the prices of its works. At event sales, all game titles will be sold for 1,500 yen and all music CDs for 1,000 yen. The summer new release "Reichou Shineki Kyou" will also be distributed for 1,000 yen. ZUN, the circle's founder, said on X that prices had been kept unchanged until now, but production costs have reached their limit, and asked for understanding. Starting September 1, retail prices will also change: games will cost 1,600 yen (excluding tax), music CDs 1,200 yen (excluding tax), and "Yougakudan no Rekishi 1" will be set at 1,400 yen (excluding tax). The announcement was made via ZUN's X account and a post on the Touhou Project news site. The price revision affects past works as well as new ones, marking a shift after a long period of stable pricing.
The Touhou Project Ichiban Kuji launches in stores on August 14, 2026, and online on August 17. Prizes include 25cm Choconokko plushies of Reimu, Remilia, Flandre, and Marisa, plus a donation box bank, figures, acrylic stands, charms, and clear posters. A Double Chance campaign offers a Reimu and Marisa plush set.
BANDAI SPIRITS revealed the complete prize list for Ichiban Kuji Touhou Project, launching August 14, 2026. New prizes include the Chokonokko Figure, Acrylic Stand, Profile Charm, and Clear Poster, joining the previously announced Chokonokko Plush Plus figures and savings box. The Last One Prize is a Marisa Kirisame plush.
Sega Fave is holding an EX revival of the Touhou Project collaboration Part 3 for Initial D THE ARCADE, running from July 30 to October 7, 2026. The event brings back all previous collaboration items, adds new chat stamps and race BGM, renews play stamps, and revives the special mode and time trial events.
Sega Fave is holding the 3rd Touhou Project collaboration for Initial D THE ARCADE as an EX reprint from July 30, 2026, through October 7. The event brings back all previous collaboration items, adds new chat stamps and race BGM, and renews play stamps and time trial events.
Anime Anime's 2026 Rainbow Day reader poll, with 102 respondents, ranked Doma from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba first for the second consecutive year. Nijino Yume from Aikatsu Stars! placed second, and Touhou Project's Tenkyuu Chimata took third.
Anime! Anime!'s Marine Day reader survey asked which anime character is most associated with the sea. Monkey D. Luffy of One Piece took first place with about 14% support, followed by Dr.STONE's Ryusui Nanami and Touhou Project's Minamitsu Murasa. The top three were all ship captains.
Individual developer shar dev released the Steam page for TOUHOU GAIDEN on July 17, a fan-made 2D action game based on Touhou Project. Set in 1999 Gensokyo, it is a side-scrolling bullet hell with pixel art inspired by the PC-98 era. Players control Reimu or Youmu across four difficulty levels. The game is a prequel between Touhou Kaikidan and Touhou Koumakyou, with influences from Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania. It was first shown at the V3Expo showcase on June 8.
Automaton's 90th weekly roundup features seven game articles that drew attention, including the official release of Palworld with over 200,000 concurrent Steam players, and announcements for indie titles ECHOES, Anomaly Control Simulator, Touhou Crisis R, Sponge Break, Rogue Carrier, and a game about Steam sale buying.
The 23rd Hakurei Shrine Grand Festival, a Touhou Project-only doujinshi sale event, was held on May 4, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight. With over 2,000 circles exhibiting, it is the largest single-content event in Japan. Cosplayer Nagisa attended as Sakuya Izayoi in a gal style, wearing a loosely worn school uniform and loose socks, a departure from the elegant maid look.
Studio Typing Tuna Games announced Touhou Crisis R, a fan-made light gun shooting game for PC (Steam). Developed by Canadian creator Brogrammist, the sequel follows Hakurei Reimu as she shoots down enemies with a handgun. It also includes a typing mode and Japanese subtitles. The predecessor Touhou Crisis holds a 96% positive rating on Steam.
Anime! Anime!'s reader survey for the second consecutive year asked which medicine-related anime character comes to mind. Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries took first place with about 33% of votes, followed by Detective Conan's Ai Haibara at about 15% and Touhou Project's Eirin Yagokoro at about 7%. The survey ran from June 13 to June 20, 2026, and collected 322 responses.
Chris and Sylvia discuss the lasting impact of the Touhou Project on gaming, manga, and fan culture. The column follows last week's reveal of a full remake of Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, the sixth main-series game, which is getting an official English release on modern platforms.
Developer shar announced 'Touhou Gaiden', a doujin action game set between the old and current Touhou Project series. The game blends aesthetics from 'Ninja Gaiden' and 'Castlevania' with bullet hell boss battles. It follows Youmu Konpaku and Reimu Hakurei in a Gensokyo on the brink of war. A trailer shows combo and break gauge mechanics. The itch.io page is live; Steam page is coming soon.
Shanghai Alice Reprise, a new circle formed by ZUN and AQUA STYLE representative JYUNYA, announced Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic during a Nintendo Direct broadcast on June 9. The bullet hell shooter is the first official remake of the 2002 Touhou Project entry Touhou Koumakyou. It launches September 10 on PC via Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The standard edition costs 1,990 yen, and a deluxe edition with a digital soundtrack costs 2,966 yen. The remake upgrades the original to 1080p resolution with fully rearranged BGM by ZUN. It includes a Classic Mode that reproduces the 2002 game as faithfully as possible, plus a new mode with infinite lives and a Challenge Mode that tracks hits taken. New features include a player hitbox display and a boss position marker at the bottom of the screen. The original Touhou Koumakyou had become unplayable on modern Windows due to frame rate issues. A programmer from AQUA STYLE independently created a Switch-compatible version, which ZUN saw and called amazing, leading to the full remake project.
ZUN and other developers have formed a new doujin circle, Shanghai Alice Reprise, dedicated to making Touhou Project games playable on modern systems. Its first project is Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic, a remake of the 2002 bullet hell shooter, announced during a June 9 Nintendo Direct. The remake supports 1080p, adds new systems and BGM, and includes a Classic Edition reproducing the original. It launches September 10 on Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Steam.
Potemki11 announced that the Touhou Project doujin dungeon RPG 'Touhou Artificial Dream in Arcadia' has sold over 100,000 units across PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS4/PS5. The Switch version is on a 50% off sale until June 14. The developer is also working on a new action game, 'UDONGEIN X2'.
BEEP Akihabara Store announced a lottery sale for a set of five classic Touhou Project PC-98 titles priced at 2.5 million yen. Lottery tickets will be distributed in-store on June 13, with winners announced on June 14. The set includes Touhou Reiiden, Touhou Fuumaroku, Touhou Yumejikuu, Touhou Gensokyo, and Touhou Kaikidan.
Valve launched the Steam Bullet Hell Fest 2026 sale event on June 9, bringing discounts on bullet hell shooting games including Vampire Survivors, Enter the Gungeon, and multiple Touhou Project titles. The event runs through June 16 and also offers free demos, upcoming release previews, and themed Steam Points Shop items.
Anime Anime's annual reader survey for Time Day (June 10) asked which time-related character comes to mind. DIO from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure took first place for the sixth consecutive year with about 29% of 720 votes. Sakuya Izayoi (Touhou Project) and Aoi Akane (Toilet-bound Hanako-kun) held second and third, the same top three as 2025.
Touhou Project and Yomiuri Land will hold a limited-time collaboration event titled 'Hakurei Shrine Summer Festival 2026 in Yomiuri Land' from June 20 to August 23, 2026. The event features exclusive merchandise, a walking-style puzzle-solving game, a stamp rally, themed food and drink items, workshops, and a collaboration with the adjacent flower park HANA·BIYORI.
Circles Rain Theory and Kaisendou announced Touhou Sosenkyo ~ Land of Oracular Zeitgeist, a derivative danmaku battle game for PC via Steam. It uses a Kaeizuka-style system with 2-person teams, over 20 team combinations, and a story about a popularity vote battle royale in Gensokyo. A demo is planned soon, with a 2026 release window.