The Silent Hill f devs and producer shared unseen footage and answered fan questions at the Konami panel during Anime Expo 2025.
The psychological/paranormal thriller game series returns in a big way. The Silent Hill f devs and producer shared unseen footage and answered social media fan questions at the Konami panel during Anime Expo 2025 this weekend. Anime Expo audiences were able to hear insights about the upcoming Silent Hill title from special guests: series producer Motoi Okamoto, Silent Hill f script writer Ryukishi07, and series musical composer (aka the GOAT) Akira Yamaoka. The panel took place at the JW Marriott Platinum Ballroom in Downtown Los Angeles.
Silent Hill f follows Hinako Shimizu, a teenage girl struggling under society’s pressure of expectations, as she navigates her hometown of Ebisugaoka, now shrouded in fog and undergoing a disturbing transformation. Players will have to unravel mysteries, battle otherworldly threats, and come face-to-face with choices that will determine Hinako’s fate.
The creative minds behind the latest installment of the Silent Hill franchise discussed behind-the-scenes topics on how this terrifying new world came to be and answered select questions from fans on social media. Okamoto-san, Ryukishi07-san, and Yamaoka-san began sharing their excitement with Anime Expo attendees. “This isn’t a live concert, but we are happy to show you what we have in store,” Yamaoka-san commented.
One of the big initial questions fans had about Silent Hill f was why it is in Japan? Okamoto-san explained, “Silent Hill is always a mix of western and Japanese influences. We feel we lost the Japanese elements along the way. So, we wanted to go full Japanese for this one.” This was a fair statement in that the creators wanted a change of scenery, and why not base it within a familiar setting for them? Kanayama, Gero in the Gifu Prefecture, served as the basis for the game’s setting. Ryukishi07 chose it for its architecture and “labyrinthine” alleyways, as mentioned in the Silent Hill Transmission video from March 13th, 2025.
Okamoto-san answered a Silent Hill f fan question about whether the upcoming game will feature more psychological or paranormal elements. He made a funny analogy to answer this question, detailing that Silent Hill f is like “a tossed and mixed salad.” There are many elements thrown into a salad, so it is all mixed and jumbled up at first. But if one were to leave the salad to sit for a bit, certain ingredients begin to separate, and the layers peel back. Okamoto-san hinted that there could be more behind the fog to the game than it appears.
Next, Ryukishi07-san delved more into how he wrote Silent Hill f’s characters. “When it comes to creating characters, I wanted to split and compartmentalize them this time around—each character having distinct traits.” He went on to talk about how this was “an elaborate, thoughtful inspiration for the game.” A video showed Hinako chatting with a classmate while walking through a rice paddy field, presenting some of the deeper character interactions with the protagonist and other town residents.
Then, Yamaoka-san touched on how he wanted the game to sound, from a musical aspect. He shared, “I wanted to take a true Japanese approach, not only using some Japanese instruments. Rather, I focused more on Japanese styles and sensitivities.” Afterwards, Yamaoka-san answered a fan question on if he used old inspirations to create Silent Hill f’s music or new inspirations. “Silent Hill has been around for 25 years. When I first started, I wanted to break barriers all the time and I was praised for it for the last 25 years. So, even now, I want to create new things. My vigour is kept up by the new people I meet too.”
The Anime Expo crowd erupted in applause after the next video showed the full three-minute opening to Silent Hill f. In classic Silent Hill cinematic fashion, the opening had Yamaoka-san’s splendid music with b-roll footage of key areas players will traverse throughout the game. It provided a nice preview of what is to come, and some of the landscapes players will have to remember.
For those attending or thinking of attending Anime Expo 2025, Konami has a special Silent Hill f booth located in the Entertainment Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center—booth E-15. Attendees will have an exclusive chance to step into the fog and take photos with themed backdrops. There are also exclusive items attendees can take home while supplies last. Be sure to stay updated on Konami’s social media and website for everything Silent Hill-related!
