Few video game franchises command as much anticipation as Konami’sSilent Hill. AlongsideResident Evil, the series is famed for being one of the original icons of the survival horror genre that has gone on to inspire titles likeDead SpaceandThe Callisto Project. Considering that legacy and how long the series has been on hiatus, the recent online event showcasing the future of theSilent Hillfranchise was a huge deal for fans.
Silent Hillhasn’t seen an installment sinceSilent Hill: Downpourin March 2012, so it’s no wonder that anticipation for a new game has been so enthusiastic. Since that release, the closest fans have come to a new title wasPT, directed by Hideo Kojimain collaboration with Guillermo del Toro. The game was a teaser forSilent Hillsbefore its cancelation due to Konami and Kojima’s falling out. After that there seemed to be a new rumor aboutSilent Hillevery few weeks, but now, October 2022’s Silent Hill Transmission has offered fans the welcome news of multiple new projects in the works.
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Silent Hill F
The biggest news coming out of the Silent Hill Transmission was the announcement ofSilent Hill F, a brand-new mainline game in the series.Silent Hill Fwill be developed by NeoBards Entertainment, best known as the studiodevelopingResident Evil Re:Verse, a multiplayer entry in its titular franchise that is set to release on October 28. Written by Ryukishi07, creator of theWhen They Cryvisual novel series, the story is set in 1960s Japan where creepy red tendrils and a trypophobia-inducing monster seem to be causing havoc. It’s a creature design that seems as beautiful as it is horrifying.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Also announced during the Silent Hill Transmission was a remake ofSilent Hill 2. Considered one of the best in the series, if not one of the greatest video games of all time, aSilent Hill 2remakehas been rumored for some time now, so its confirmation might be as exciting as an entirely new game. The reveal also confirmed rumors that the game will be a PS5 console exclusive, but it will also come to PC. Development is being undertaken by Bloober Team, the studio behindThe Medium,working alongside the original game’s artist Masahiro Ito and composer Akira Yamaoka. The remake brings over-the-shoulder, third-person gameplay as well as massive visual upgrades through Unreal Engine 5.
Silent Hill: Townfall
One of the more cryptic reveals from the Silent Hill Transmission wasSilent Hill: Townfall. All that was shown for this project is a short clip of a voice on a radio describing the eerieevents in the town of Silent Hill, with some spooky scenes appearing on-screen. The game is being developed by No Code Studios under Annapurna and Konami. It’s a significant task for the AA studio behindObservationandStories Untold, which has reportedly had to double its team size to work onSilent Hill Townfall. Creative director Jon McKellan later confirmed there is more news on the way this year.
Silent Hill: Ascension
One of the more surprising announcements from the Silent Hill Transmissions wasSilent Hill: Ascension, a real-time interactive event where fans will control the story. It seems to be a sizable project, involving collaboration between Genvid Entertainment, J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Games, Behaviour Interactive ofDead by Daylightfame, and dj2 Entertainment. The trailer only showed a monster and a live chat reaction. Based on that, it may end up being an experience somewhere between something like Twitch PlaysPokemon, but with aninteractive film feel likeImmortalityorBlack Mirror: Bandersnatch. It has been said that what fans decide during the event is permanent, and will shape the series' canon forever.
Return to Silent Hill
Return to Silent Hill, the third film based on the series, had a trailer at the event.Return to Silent Hillwill be a reboot of the film series based on the story ofSilent Hill 2directed by Christophe Gans, who also directed the first film adaptation. ThatSilent Hillfilm was a box office hit when it was released in 2006, but was critically slated, as is the case with many film adaptations of video games. But that seems less true in recent years with films likeDetective Pikachuand series likeCyberpunk: Edgerunnersimpressing both commercially and critically - examples that Gans will hopefully look to follow withSilent Hill.
