Nintendo Files New Trademark for Hotel Dusk: Room 215 in Japan, Sparking Interest in Classic DS Adventure

Nintendo Files New Trademark for Hotel Dusk: Room 215 in Japan, Sparking Interest in Classic DS Adventure Hotel Dusk: Room 215, the highly regarded text-driven adventure published by Nintendo, has once again captured the community’s attention after the company filed a new trademark for the game's Western title in Japan.

Hotel Dusk was first released for the Nintendo DS in 2007 and quickly developed a cult following due to its noir-inspired storytelling and innovative use of handheld hardware.

Developed by the now-defunct studio Cing, the title was followed by a sequel—Last Window: The Secret of Cape West—in 2010, before Cing declared bankruptcy that same year.

Since then, fans have seen little movement from the series. This week marked an unexpected development.

On May 9th, Nintendo submitted a trademark application for "Hotel Dusk" for use in Japan—the first time the company has officially secured the Western title in its home country.

The trademark was made public on May 19th.

Previously, Nintendo has only held the rights for the original Japanese title, ‘Wish Room’.

This latest move has reignited conversation around the acclaimed Nintendo DS game and its legacy among fans and industry commentators alike. Trademark filings are a common practice for major companies like Nintendo and generally serve to protect intellectual property rather than confirm new projects.

Nonetheless, the decision to formally register the "Hotel Dusk" name in Japan is notable.

As observed by the Nintendo community, a similar situation occurred in 2018 when Nintendo filed a trademark for the Western title "Trace Memory"—Cing's other celebrated adventure series.

Five years later, that series was revived for Nintendo Switch with "Another Code: Recollection,” a remastered collection that used the Western name in Japan for the first time. To date, there is no official confirmation from Nintendo regarding any future projects related to Hotel Dusk: Room 215 or its sequel.

The trademark activity, while not a definitive indication of a remaster or re-release, has nonetheless stirred anticipation among long-time fans, many of whom hope to see the return of Cing’s signature mystery adventures on modern hardware like the Nintendo Switch or a potential Switch successor. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 stands as one of the unique examples of story-driven gameplay on the Nintendo DS, winning praise for its engaging narrative, distinct art style, and the innovative use of the handheld’s touch controls and vertical orientation.

Developer Cing’s legacy, although cut short by its closure, continues to influence the design and appreciation of narrative-driven adventure games on Nintendo platforms.

The revival of Trace Memory through Another Code: Recollection has fueled optimism that Nintendo may yet revisit other classic DS adventures for new audiences. While the latest trademark filing is not official confirmation of a Hotel Dusk: Room 215 remake or remaster, it serves as a reminder of the game’s enduring impact—and leaves space for renewed interest in a possible return to Hotel Dusk’s shadowy corridors for both veteran fans and a new generation of players via the Nintendo eShop.

Nintendo Japan Xbox Series X|S Cing DS Hotel Dusk Hotel Dusk: Room 215 Wish Room Last Window: The Secret of Cape West Trace Memory Another Code: Recollection Nintendo DS Switch