Silent Hills on Xbox One?

On 05/30/2015 at 11:33 AM by VisuaLIES

So there's this rumor going around (I read it on IGN) that Microsoft is in talks with Konami about purchasing the aborted game Silent Hills to release it exclusively on Xbox One. At first glance, this seems plausible, because it would make sense for a hardware company to at least inquire about securing this game as a console exclusive, considering the interest this game has garnered.

However, many of the details of the rumor just don't make sense. Supposedly, Microsoft is willing to shell out billions of dollars. While Microsoft has done this before with Minecraft, that game fits more in line with Microsoft's desire to compete with Apple and Google in the mobile space. Silent Hills would be great for console sales, but would do nothing in the lucrative mobile sector (otherwise, Konami would have continued development on it, considering mobile is their stated focus now). The rumor also states that Silent Hills was 80% done when it was cancelled. I find this impossible, considering that Kojima and co. are wrapping up Metal Gear Solid V. I also think that Konami and Kojima would have worked out a deal to finish that game if it were that deep in development, considering the impact that its demo, P.T. had, as well as the big names attached to it (Guillermo del Toro and Norman Reedus) who were disappointed by its cancellation. Konami itself even described its development status as "embryonic". Finally, the rumor goes on to suggest that P.T. was pulled from the PlayStation store to appease Microsoft, which is utterly ridiculous. That likely has more to do with the fact that Norman Reedus' likeness, which appears at the end of the demo, can no longer be used, since his contract with Konami has been nullified, and maybe the fact that Konami has been trying to erase Kojima's name from existence, and not because of some potential deal with Microsoft.

Now, I don't completely rule out that Silent Hills could come to Xbox One. When you have as much money as Microsoft, anything is possible. However the specific details of this rumor just don't add up. It would take a lot more work than the rumor implies, and require a bigger financial commitment than it would be worth, even for a high profile game like Silent Hills.

What do you guys think? Would you buy an Xbox One for Silent Hills (assuming you don't already have one)?

mothman

05/30/2015 at 03:10 PM

Likely fake but even if it isn't I wouldn't buy an xbone for any reason.

VisuaLIES

05/30/2015 at 04:44 PM

One vote no lol. I'd probably get it eventually. If MS were to get Silent Hills AND release a slim model for $250, it'd be hard to pass up. I also don't want to have to wait for Tomb Raider. The chances of all those things happening are pretty low though.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

05/31/2015 at 12:45 PM

I kind of feel sorry for Xbox exclusives. Microsoft drops the price, but people keep buying PS4's. Titanfall would have been a bigger hit if it was relegated to Xbox.

I hope for the best with Silent Hills as it seems like a great idea. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with Konami.

05/31/2015 at 11:35 PM

I don't feel sorry for EA at all. They're the ones who signed that deal when the PS4 was obliterating the XB1. Things have kind of leveled off, at least here in America, but overall the PS4 still has a healthy lead. As a PS4 owner I do worry, because Sony just hasn't had the best luck with it's internal exclusives, Driveclub and The Order to be specific. With Uncharted getting delayed, and no news on the Last Guardian and God of War, if it wasn't for Bloodborne, they'd really be in trouble. Konami has new leadership (CEO?). That's behind this move to mobile and the lack of respect for console development and Kojima.

KnightDriver

06/01/2015 at 02:16 AM

I've already heard speculation on IGN's Podcast Unlocked about Kojima being asked to head some project for Xbox. I can see MS totally going after the Silent Hill IP, and that would be great, but not for billions. That seems a bit much for a niche title like this. But I wouldn't be surprised if they went after Kojima to do some Silent Hills look alike for Xbox.

Oh yeah, the question. After playing the first Silent Hills game, I'd be very excited to see a game in that series on Xbox One. I don't think I'd get one just for that, but it'd be something, along with other games, to make me pull the trigger on one.

06/02/2015 at 01:18 AM

I'd rather Kojima work with Sony. Yes, mostly because I own a PS4, but also because we've been through this song and dance before with Microsoft. They court a well known Japanese game director, make a game, and it all amounts to very little, because Microsoft doesn't have the hardware penetration in Japan, and their Western consumers are generally apathetic towards Japanese games. If they couldn't sell an RPG by the guys who created Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest (Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon), I doubt a Hideo Kojima game is going to fare substantially better in sales. At least he'll get to make his game I guess.

06/03/2015 at 02:42 AM

He does seem a better fit with Sony, but from what I've heard, consoles are dead in Japan. It's all about the phone there.

06/03/2015 at 08:44 AM

Maybe if Japanese companies would still make console games, instead of shifting to handheld and mobile, people would buy more consoles. Crazy, I know.

jgusw

06/03/2015 at 08:21 AM

I recently bought a PS4 just to play The Witcher 3. I could of bought a XB1 to play it on, but I have no desire to own one.

06/03/2015 at 09:38 AM

Hope you're enjoying it. I haven't played it yet.

PixlBit