Silent Hills
Konami's president approached Hideo Kojima in September 2012 to direct the next Silent Hill installment. Kojima accepted the offer with enthusiasm and began development shortly thereafter using his studio's Fox Engine. The project aimed to be the eighth main entry in the long-running horror franchise. Guillermo del Toro joined as a co-director alongside Kojima, bringing his unique vision to the table. Norman Reedus was cast to provide both the voice and physical appearance for the game's protagonist. This collaboration marked a significant moment where Hollywood talent met Japanese game design.
Sources reported in March 2015 that conflicts with Konami led Kojima and senior staff to plan their departure after Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain finished development. Konami simultaneously announced a restructuring of its video game business and removed all references to Kojima Productions from promotional materials. A spokesperson initially denied rumors about Kojima leaving but stated he would remain involved with the Metal Gear franchise. Guillermo del Toro told attendees at a San Francisco Film Society event on the 26th of April 2015, that Silent Hills had been cancelled. Norman Reedus confirmed the cancellation via Twitter the following day. Konami pulled P.T. from the PlayStation Store on the 29th of April 2015, effectively removing access to the playable teaser.
Polygon reported an anonymous tip confirming the game's cancellation shortly after Konami issued statements to Kotaku. Fans upset by the decision started a petition on Change.org asking Konami to continue the project. That petition eventually gathered 194,279 signatures before the campaign concluded. Guillermo del Toro revealed through a tweet that horror manga artist Junji Ito would have also worked on the project. Cliff Bleszinski was asked to join the team but declined due to his dislike of Los Angeles and preference for new intellectual properties. Rumors persisted throughout the horror community regarding potential revivals by third parties or Kojima himself in the years following the announcement.
Sony Interactive Entertainment unveiled Death Stranding during its E3 2016 press conference featuring Reedus and del Toro once again. The reformed Kojima Productions used this platform to introduce their new title instead of Silent Hills. In 2021, a game called Abandoned generated heavy speculation about being part of the franchise though developers denied any connection. Bloober Team later denied rumors about developing a revival under their oversight while creating the 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2. The cancellation left a lasting mark on the industry as fans expressed both frustration and continued interest in what could have been. The story remains a source of discussion within gaming circles decades after the initial development began.
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Common questions
Who directed the cancelled video game Silent Hills?
Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro co-directed the cancelled video game Silent Hills. Konami's president approached Hideo Kojima in September 2012 to direct the next installment, and he accepted the offer with enthusiasm.
When was the interactive teaser P.T. launched for Silent Hills?
The interactive teaser titled P.T. launched on the 12th of August 2014 through the PlayStation Store. By the 1st of September 2014, Sony announced that over one million copies had been downloaded from the network.
Why was the project Silent Hills cancelled by Konami?
Silent Hills was cancelled due to conflicts between Hideo Kojima and senior staff at Konami following the completion of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Konami simultaneously announced a restructuring of its video game business and removed all references to Kojima Productions from promotional materials.
What date did Norman Reedus confirm the cancellation of Silent Hills?
Norman Reedus confirmed the cancellation via Twitter on the 27th of April 2015 after Guillermo del Toro made the announcement on the 26th of April 2015. Konami pulled P.T. from the PlayStation Store on the 29th of April 2015 effectively removing access to the playable teaser.
How many signatures did the petition against cancelling Silent Hills gather?
Fans upset by the decision started a petition on Change.org asking Konami to continue the project which eventually gathered 194,279 signatures before the campaign concluded. That petition represented significant fan frustration regarding the cancellation.