Starting with protagonist Simon Ordell wandering through the town of St. Amelia, he’s eventually contacted by what seems to be a familiar voice. This is apparently Zoe, someone he recognizes, though it’s not long before he has to evade terrifying monsters (and judging by the game’s ESRB rating, they’re hungrier than you think).

Why is Simon in this town? Apparently to “put things right.” Regardless of how ominous that sounds, he’ll need to unearth clues and discover everything he can about St. Amelia to survive. While the player can engage in melee combat with axes and the like, or gun down enemies with firearms, sneaking past them or creating a distraction with the radio or any nearby items is also a sound strategy (pun intended).

As one of the biggest games Annapurna has ever published, developer Screenburn Interactive promises a “full-length, high-quality” game. Whether it can match up to the likes of Silent Hill 2 Remake and Silent Hill f remains to be seen, but thus far, we’re very intrigued.

Rated “M” for Mature 17+ due to violence, blood and strong language, the listing indicates what we already know – that players will navigate St. Amelia, a Scottish island that’s fallen under the pall of the series’ signature fog. There are puzzles to solve and monsters to avoid, though you’ll also have guns and melee weapons like axes to defend yourself.

Some of the violence isn’t anything too gruesome, between stabbing and blood spatters, but there’s also an instance of a “man being eaten by a monster.” So prepare yourself accordingly.

Of course, the real significance of this rating, especially so close to State of Play, is that it could mean a potential release date announcement. Silent Hill: Townfall was already confirmed for 2026 on PS5 and PC, so it looks like the perfect opportunity to drop the release. The only question that remains is where it could fit, especially with how crowded every month before November is going to become.

Whatever happens, we’re keen to jump in, especially since it’s the first full-length first-person title in the series and among the biggest games ever published by Annapurna. To learn more about the combat, head here.

In a new behind-the-scenes snippet about both gameplay systems, he noted that, “Sometimes parts of the game will certainly push you towards one form of dealing with enemy encounters.”

“We have various ways of doing combat in the game,” added QA lead Linda Stenback. “We can go from melee weapons to firearms and just general distractions.” Of course, while some situations may dictate one approach over the others, there’s relative freedom to choose what you’re most comfortable with.

If you do decide to throw hands, then fair warning: It feels like you’re “in a real scrap” per McKellan. Then again, that frantic feeling is what he enjoys most about it.

Silent Hill: Townfall is out later this year for PS5 and PC, though a release date has yet to be confirmed. While Screen Burn is a small team, Annapurna Interactive promises it will deliver a “full-length, high-quality game” (and also considers it one of their biggest ever published). Pricing remains unconfirmed, but Best Buy in the US listed it for $49.99.

Stay tuned for more details and check out Konami’s thoughts on delivering the first full-length first-person title in the series (which opens up new options for combat and puzzles). You can also listen to the track “Home” and learn more about the title’s composer.

Instead, it’s Anthony Scott Burns, also known as Pilotpriest, and he is also a filmmaker. In fact, he’s been working on the latter for over three decades and has released six albums since 2012. One of those albums, “Trans,” has a distinct Electronic feel, but moodier, darker and more ethereal than you’d expect.

That influence is apparent in “Home” (minus the Electronic part). One commenter noted how there’s a hint of “Promise,” a famous Silent Hill 2 track, but it transitions into something heavier, backed entirely by a piano. The random sights and sounds of St. Amelia create a weightier impression.

Silent Hill: Townfall launches later this year for PS5 and PC, and according to Annapurna Interactive, it’s one of the biggest games it’s ever published. Director John McKellan describes it as “not only our biggest and most ambitious game yet, but as a love letter to the series.” Best Buy listed it for $49.99, but pricing has yet to be officially confirmed, so stay tuned for more updates.

In the meantime, head here to learn more about how Screen Burn is leveraging the first-person perspective to create a unique experience.

Which is interesting because Annapurna’s Leanne Loombe called it a “full-length, high-quality game” that the team could “present with confidence, following Silent Hill f and Silent Hill 2 [remake].” It’s also considered Screen Burn’s “biggest and most ambitious game yet,” according to writer and director Jon McKellan. Considering that the last two Silent Hill games retailed for $69.99, it’s interesting to see Konami going for a lower price point with Townfall.

Perhaps it says something about the length of the experience, but it would give a bit more credence to rumors of Townfall being part of an anthology of games. If other indie developers joined the initiative to deliver their own titles, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Konami bundle them all into one package. Then again, it may just be because this is a new IP in the franchise without any prior connections, but it doesn’t explain Silent Hill f’s pricing.

Granted, this may be a placeholder listing – even the box art is “not final” – so stay tuned for updates. Silent Hill: Townfall launches later this year for PS5 and PC with no word on a potential Xbox Series X/S version. It’s the first full-length title in the series with a first-person perspective, and that means a different approach to horror (albeit one that’s still in the spirit of Silent Hill).

During the latest Silent Hill Transmission, president Hector Sanchez said that it’s “among some of the biggest games that we’re ever published.” Annapurna’s head of games, Leanne Loombe, added that despite Screen Burn’s size, with only 30 developers, “They have been afforded the development time to really realize their creative vision for Townfall.”

She went on to call it a “full-length, high-quality game” that the publisher can “present with confidence, following Silent Hill f and Silent Hill 2 [remake].” Writer and director Jon McKellan also thanked fans for their patience and said the studio “can’t wait to show you more of what we have in store.”

“We see this project not only as our biggest and most ambitious game yet, but as a love letter to the series that inspired many of the team – myself included – to become game developers in the first place!”

Interestingly, McKellan revealed earlier in the broadcast that he played through the first Silent Hill when he was 17 or 18 while suffering from a high fever. Despite finishing it, he considered the experience to be a fever dream in every sense of the word, to the point where he doesn’t want to replay and discover whether it was real or not.

“I’ve been drawn to the fog ever since. And I think now that we’re actually responsible for it and we’re actually kind of pulling the rest of the team in. Now we’re looking forward to bringing the fans into that fever dream, too,” said McKellan.

Silent Hill: Townfall launches in 2026 for PS5 and PC, and serves as the first full-length first-person title in the series. More details will be revealed in the coming months, with other Transmission broadcasts to come, so it shouldn’t be long before we learn the release date.

But above all else, we were surprised to see that the gameplay is in first-person. Unlike say, Resident Evil Requiem, you won’t be switching between it and the more traditional third-person perspective. Silent Hill: Townfall is the first full-length title in the series to be in first-person, per producer Motoi Okamoto in the latest Transmission broadcast.

The perspective allowed for new combat options, puzzle mechanics and ways to avoid combat. You can use melee weapons like wood planks, pipes and a pistol, but with the new CRTV, it’s possible to lean around and over walls to observe any potential threats. So if you want to sneak around or hide, go ahead. Just be aware that different situations require different strategies, and choosing the correct one is important.

Regardless of the perspective, Screen Burn aimed to ensure the experience feels distinctly Silent Hill. It’s out later this year, so stay tuned for updates, especially with other Transmission broadcasts planned for this year.

We begin with Simon pondering the mistakes that led him to his current predicament before diving into a showcase of the game’s excellent visuals and combat that seems as nerve-wracking as you’d expect from a Silent Hill title. Among the most interesting new additions is the CRTV, a pocket television that’s going to be integral to your journey through St. Amelia according to Jon McKellan, the game’s writer and director.

“Drawing on our previous experience designing interactive ‘retro’ user interfaces and VHS-style aesthetics, we wanted to take the handheld radio – an iconic tool of the Silent Hill series – and evolve it in our own way. The result of that evolution is the ‘CRTV’ – a lovingly crafted device that uses real retro technology and innovative techniques to produce the gritty, authentic audio and video used throughout the game.”

Aside from the CRTV, McKellan commented on the game’s shift to the first-person POV, showcasing how it blends well with the new device at our disposal. It’s going to be mighty helpful in tracking your objectives and keeping tabs on threats around you. If you’re spotted, you get to use both melee and ranged weapons to take them on, or perhaps choose to be stealthy and attempt to avoid conflict altogether. That might be a wise choice given how terrifying the enemies in the trailer were, and we believe things are going to get a whole lot worse.

McKellan also highlighted the game’s DualSense integration, promising that the controller’s advanced haptics will play a major role in keeping you as immersed in the experience as possible. Silent Hill: Townfall releases later this year as a PS5 exclusive. You can check out the reveal trailer below.

However, Townfall is the main attraction, and rightfully so. Announced back in October 2022, it’s developed by Screen Burn Interactive (formerly No Code) and published by Annapurna Interactive. Like Silent Hill f and Silent Hill 2 remake, it uses Unreal Engine 5.

That’s pretty much all we know at this point. Aside from rumors that it’s allegedly part of an anthology series with other indie developers working on follow-ups, there’s been no word on the gameplay or plot. Based on Screen Burn’s experience, you can probably expect an unorthodox narrative-focused adventure, but that doesn’t exactly narrow things down.

Konami somewhat corroborated those anthology rumors when it announced plans to develop Silent Hill: Townfall as a series going forward. It even reaffirmed that its the next new title for the franchise. A now-pulled retailer listing indicated a March 26th launch date, and thankfully, we won’t have to wait long to see if that’s legitimate. Stay tuned for updates in the meantime.

“As a continuation of our ongoing efforts, we are currently developing a brand-new title in the Silent Hill series, as well as a remake of the first installment, Silent Hill.”

At first glance, you would think this means a new, unannounced Silent Hill is in the works. However, when asked by Gematsu, Konami confirmed that it’s actually referring to Silent Hill: Townfall. Which is good news – the project is far from dead, but it doesn’t bring us any closer to a release date. Even that recently pulled retailer listing is looking more and more like a mistake.

Developed by Screen Burn Interactive (formerly No Code of Stories Untold fame) and published by Annapurna Interactive, little is known about Townfall. It’s developed on Unreal Engine 5, much like Silent Hill 2 remake, and is allegedly part of an anthology series with other indie developers seemingly working on follow-ups.

Maybe Konami is waiting for more progress on those releases as part of a greater marketing strategy for Townfall. Or maybe it has an announcement ready for this year, and we need to wait. Rest assured that it’s still coming, but whether it’s this year or the next remains to be seen.