Touhou Project Streaming Rules Ban Original Game Endings Ahead of New Classic Release
The guideline reminder arrives with the remake's release, signaling that even a modernized version of a foundational Windows-era game carries the franchise's long-standing restriction on showing endings, which streamers must plan around.
Key Facts
- Team Shanghai Alice posted the streaming and derivative works guideline reminders on September 4, 2026, ahead of the September 10 release of Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic.
- The Touhou Project Derivative Works Guidelines prohibit acts of publicly releasing the endings of the original games.
- Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic is a remake of the 2002 Windows game Touhou Koumakyou, the first Windows PC Touhou Project game.
- The remake includes high-resolution graphics, fully rearranged music by ZUN, a new Life Infinite Mode, and a Classic Version reproducing the original game.
- Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic launches September 10 on PC via Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Reporting from 4 sources: Automaton, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark, GameBusiness.jp.
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.
ZUN confirmed the master-up on X on September 5, posting with a "yellow drink" in hand and the message "Touhou Koumakyou has been mastered up. It will really come out on 9/10!" The post drew replies such as "I bought a Switch 2 for this" and "I never thought I'd get to hear it." His handle on the platform is Hakurei Kannushi (@korindo). The two protagonists differ in play style. Reimu Hakurei, the shrine maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, fights with high evasion and a wide attack range. Marisa Kirisame, a magician from the Forest of Magic, favors concentrated frontal firepower. Controls cover four-direction movement, the normal "Shot" attack, and the "Bomb (Ofuda)" special, which is powerful but limited in uses. A slow movement option helps players thread fine bullet patterns. The remake exists partly because the 2002 original does not run properly on current Windows systems, which is why the New Classic version brings the game to PC and consoles. The reminder posts on September 4 explicitly stated the guidelines were not changed for this release. Individual streaming is treated as fan activity under the video distribution rules, so it faces no major restrictions, but the ending ban comes from the Derivative Works Guidelines and overrides that leniency.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Automaton 『東方紅魔郷』リメイク版と“オリジナル再現版”は別アプリとして配信へ。『東方紅魔郷：New Classic』を買えば『東方紅魔郷: Classic』が無料で付く
- Denfaminicogamer 『東方紅魔郷：New Classic』のマスターアップをZUN氏が報告、予定どおり9月10日に発売される予定。SNSでは「このためにSwitch2買いました」「まさか聞けるとは思わなかった」と喜びのコメントが相次ぐ
- Game Spark 『東方紅魔郷：New Classic』販売方法が明らかに―買えば2バージョン遊べる。原作を極力再現「Classic」版のみの購入はどのプラットフォームでも不可
- GameBusiness.jp 「マジででます！」ZUN氏がビール片手に『東方紅魔郷：New Classic』マスターアップを報告！新要素、アレンジBGＭなど搭載し予定通り9月10日配信