Konami has announcedSilent Hill: Ascension, an interactive media project from co-developers Genvid and Behaviour Interactive. Konami is bringing backSilent Hillin a big way starting with the announcement of four gamingSilent Hillprojects during Wednesday’s Silent Hill Transmission. Each project is unique, whether it be theSilent Hill 2remake, the episodicSilent Hill Townfall, or the mysteriousSilent Hill f.Silent Hill: Ascensionstands out from the rest, however, as a cross-media effort mixing live storytelling and interactivity.
Interactive media projects have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, withBlack Mirror: Bandersnatchon Netflix being the most popular and successful.Silent Hillhas also made previous efforts to gain a foothold in film withSilent Hillin 2006,Silent Hill: Revelationin 2012, and the upcomingReturn to Silent Hillfilm.Silent Hill: Ascensionwill be branching into previously unexplored ideas, offering a new way forSilent Hillfans to experience the horror franchise.
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While little has been confirmed regardingSilent Hill: Ascension, what has been confirmed is that it’s an “interactive video streaming experience.” The announcement trailer indicates viewers will be able to watch together, chat within the community, and directly influence the experience’s direction through interactive elements. In addition to developers Genvid and Behaviour Interactive,JJ Abrams' Bad RobotGames and video-game-to-TV production company DJ2 Entertainment, a team designed to bring this kind of project to life.
That Behaviour Interactive, the Dead by Daylight developer, is associated with the project is certain to instill excitement inSilent Hill: Ascension. It’s Genvid’s past work that’s likely to be more akin to whatSilent Hill: Ascensionwill become, though.Genvid says it makes “MILEs,” or Massively Interactive Live Events. A video from Genvid shows its MILEs projects can dynamically change a stream’s content based on chat interactivity, while retaining static elements like dialogue and key story beats.
Genvid’s most recent MILES project, yet to be released, isRival Peak.Rival Peakis a digitalreality show experiencewhere streaming audiences decide who is eliminated each week, listening to their private conversations and supporting their survival experiences. While the experience is live fulltime, a weekly roundup show would focus on key moments like a regular appointment-style television show.
Silent Hill: Ascensionis easily the most experimental of today’sSilent Hillannouncements, and as such has the most to prove toSilent Hillfans. Today’s announcement likely created more questions than anything, though. Expect Genvid and Behaviour Interactive to focus on clarifying exactly whatSilent Hill: Ascensionis as the streaming experience’s 2023 release approaches.
