After a decade of unsettling quiet, Konami broke its silence with a bang, unveiling three new Silent Hill games all at once. According to series producer Motoi Okamoto, this bold move was a deliberate statement to fans, old and new: Konami is absolutely committed to bringing the iconic horror franchise back from its slump.
Looking back at the series’ journey since the first Silent Hill Transmission in October 2022, Okamoto explained that the highly anticipated Silent Hill 2 Remake was crafted to appeal to both long-time devotees and fresh faces. This dual approach was key to attracting new players to the terrifying world of Silent Hill.
Okamoto candidly shared that announcing three major titles—Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill f, and Silent Hill: Townfall—simultaneously in 2022 was no accident. The intention wasn’t to merely “test the waters” with a single remake. It was a clear declaration of their serious intent to revive the series. He highlighted the inherent risks of developing a remake and a brand-new title concurrently, but stressed that conveying this commitment was paramount.
“Only when a new game is announced can the future of a series be seen,” Okamoto asserted. “Users won’t feel motivated to engage with an IP unless they can sense it has a future. If the company takes a wait-and-see approach, so will the players. The company needs to show how serious it is so that users can get genuinely excited. I think that’s only fair.”
Since that pivotal 2022 showcase, Konami has delivered a range of projects, including Silent Hill: The Short Message, the Silent Hill 2 Remake, Silent Hill f, Silent Hill: Townfall, and multimedia ventures like Silent Hill: Ascension and the upcoming movie, Return to Silent Hill. The critical and fan reception for most of these has been overwhelmingly positive, suggesting Konami’s gamble paid off handsomely.
The success is evident in the numbers: Silent Hill 2 Remake has already sold 2.5 million copies globally, pushing the franchise’s total sales past 10 million. Silent Hill f also achieved an impressive milestone, selling 1 million copies. IGN’s review of the Silent Hill 2 Remake awarded it an 8/10, praising it as “a great way to visit – or revisit – one of the most dread-inducing destinations in the history of survival horror.” Meanwhile, Silent Hill f received a 7/10, noted for its “fresh new setting to explore and a fascinatingly dark story to unravel,” despite its melee-focused combat not quite hitting the mark.
This article was reported by Vikki Blake, a veteran gaming journalist and critic with over 15 years of experience.