New Silent Hill Game Released as Free Download with Surprise State of Play Announcement

Konami has delighted fans with a surprise announcement during Sony’s State of Play event. They revealed the release of a brand new game in the acclaimed psychological horror series, Silent Hill. The game, titled ‘Silent Hill: The Short Message,’ was made available as a free download for PlayStation 5.

The two-hour first-person game revolves around teenage protagonist Anita, who embarks on a search for her missing friend Maya in an eerie abandoned building. The game beautifully explores themes of suicide, self-harm, bullying, and isolation, capturing the essence of early entries in the series while providing a sensitive portrayal without crossing into exploitation.

As a warning, some graphic scenes in the game may be distressing to sensitive players. The game carries a rating of 15 and is not recommended for younger audiences.

The overall producer of the Silent Hill series, Motoi Okamoto, took on the additional roles of director and scenario director for ‘The Short Message.’ The esteemed Silent Hill team members, Masahiro Ito and Akira Yamaoka, returned to contribute their talents as monster designer and composer respectively. Although developed by the indie studio, HexaDrive, Konami has taken the lead in ensuring the game’s adherence to the series’ core elements. ‘The Short Message’ serves as a standalone entry paving the way for the highly anticipated remake of Silent Hill 2, as well as other announced titles like Silent Hill f and Silent Hill: Townfall.

This new release effectively raises expectations for future games, offering a fresh perspective with its use of a teenage protagonist and captivating monster design. The game is a linear experience that unfolds its central mystery with surprising twists, keeping players engaged throughout.