Few unmade video games have captivated the gaming world quite like Silent Hills and its legendary Playable Trailer (P.T.). Despite P.T. being notoriously difficult to access after Konami removed it from digital storefronts, an innovative instructor in Japan has found a fascinating new purpose for this iconic horror demo: teaching students to speak English.
A recent report from Tsunan Secondary School in Niigata Prefecture detailed how an assistant language teacher ingeniously integrated P.T. into their curriculum. Students took turns playing the terrifying demo, navigating its eerie corridors and unsettling puzzles, all while communicating their decisions and observations in English. Classmates would actively participate, suggesting the player’s next moves using English phrases, turning a solo horror experience into a collaborative language lesson.
Reportedly, the game’s infamous ringing telephone caused quite a stir among the fifth-year students—comparable to high school sophomores—proving that horror can be an effective, albeit startling, teaching aid. It’s particularly remarkable that the school managed to acquire and maintain access to P.T., a game that can only be played on PlayStation 4 consoles that downloaded it before its removal from the PlayStation Store.
The ill-fated Silent Hills project, which P.T. was meant to preview, was set to be a collaboration between legendary Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima, acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, and actor Norman Reedus. After Konami abruptly canceled the project, Kojima departed the company and went on to release Death Stranding, starring Reedus in a prominent role and featuring a cameo from del Toro. Its highly anticipated sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, launched earlier this year.
In other news, Kojima is currently developing OD, an upcoming horror title in collaboration with director Jordan Peele. Initial trailers for OD hinted at a potential Silent Hills connection, and a more recent teaser evoked strong P.T. vibes. Kojima even playfully mentioned ensuring he hadn’t accidentally captured a real ghost during location scouting for the game. While OD‘s release date remains unannounced, it’s being co-produced by Xbox Game Studios and Kojima Productions, featuring a cast including Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier.