Why Silent Hill f Isn't Set in the Real Silent Hill

Silent Hill f, the next big mainline entry in the legendary horror series, almost went full meta and used Japan’s actual “Silent Hill” as its setting. That didn’t work out — blame Mount Fuji. Instead, the game is now set in a fictional Japanese town inspired by a real location far from the famous foggy mountains of the U.S. And even though longtime fans had doubts about the direction, the game is shaping up to be a major release for Konami after a long dry spell. Here's the full story behind the setting change, the connections to classic Silent Hill titles, and what to expect when the game drops in September.

Konami originally revealed Silent Hill f back in 2022, and it stood out immediately — not just for being a brand-new entry after years of silence, but because it broke the tradition of being set in the haunted town of Silent Hill, Maine. Instead, the game shifts the action to Japan, which was already a big surprise for the fanbase. Turns out, this wasn't just a random choice. The team, led by writer Ryukishi07, seriously considered setting the game in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture. Why Shizuoka? Because the name literally translates to “Silent Hill.”

But here’s the issue. Shizuoka is beautiful — and that’s the problem. According to the devs, the setting didn’t work for their fog-drenched horror atmosphere because Mount Fuji is visible from almost every part of the area. It’s hard to sell dread and psychological terror when there’s a clear view of Japan’s most iconic and picturesque mountain in the background.

So, they pivoted. The final setting for Silent Hill f is the fictional town of Ebisugaoka, inspired by Kanayama in Gifu Prefecture. This quiet, rural region offered the perfect balance of isolation, mystery, and eerie aesthetics to support the tone the developers were after. In this setting, the story follows high schooler Hinako Shimizu as she fights through terrifying creatures, environmental puzzles, and psychological breakdowns — basically, everything you’d expect from a proper Silent Hill title.

NeoBards, the studio behind the project, is making sure the game doesn’t feel like a disconnected side story. Despite being the first full Silent Hill game not set in the U.S., Silent Hill f includes plenty of nods to past titles. And the game’s composer? Akira Yamaoka is back. That alone should bring some comfort to longtime fans hoping for that signature unsettling soundscape. Yamaoka also contributed to Silent Hill: The Short Message, one of Konami’s smaller projects released earlier, and the music held up even if the game didn’t make a huge impact.

Konami clearly wants to revive the franchise for real this time. Since the 2022 Transmission presentation, they’ve been outsourcing Silent Hill games to various studios. Not all have landed — Silent Hill: Ascension got barely any attention, and The Short Message came and went without much buzz. But things picked up again after the Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober Team earned five nominations at The Game Awards 2024. Despite being snubbed for Game of the Year and Best Game Direction, the remake earned strong praise and likely gave fans a bit more faith in the future of the series.

And there’s more coming. Konami recently confirmed that Bloober is also working on a remake of the original Silent Hill, which would be another major nostalgia hit if done right. But until then, Silent Hill f is the real focus. With its unique setting, original characters, and a balance of new direction and old-school callbacks, this might be the fresh start the franchise needs.

So, no, Silent Hill f isn’t technically in Silent Hill — not the American town or the Japanese one. But the spirit of the series is clearly still alive, just relocated to somewhere with no Mount Fuji in sight. The game is scheduled to launch on September 25, 2025, for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.