Konami has finally lifted the heavy fog covering its next major horror title. During tonight’s State of Play and the subsequent Silent Hill Transmission, fans received their first proper look at Silent Hill: Townfall. The footage confirms a shift to a first-person perspective and introduces a haunting new setting that trades the American Midwest for the chilling, mist-covered coast of Scotland.
A New Nightmare in St. Amelia
The trailer introduces players to Simon Ordell, a man who wakes up with a hospital tag on his wrist and a desperate need to “put things right.” Unlike previous entries set in the titular town, Townfall transports the terror to St. Amelia, a fictional Scottish fishing village. The developers at Screen Burn, the studio formerly known as No Code, have used their home turf to create a distinct atmosphere.
This is not the Silent Hill you remember. The narrow, cobblestone streets of St. Amelia are suffocated by “The Haar,” a thick coastal fog that feels heavier and wetter than the series’ traditional mist. The change in location brings a fresh visual identity while keeping the franchise’s core themes of isolation and psychological decay.
Key Setting Details:
- Location: St. Amelia, a remote Scottish island village.
- Atmosphere: Defined by dense, wet coastal fog and grey, imposing architecture.
- Developer: Screen Burn (the team behind Stories Untold and Observation).
Surviving the First Person Fog
Townfall marks a bold departure for the series by adopting a fully first-person viewpoint. This shift is designed to make every encounter feel more immediate and claustrophobic. While you will have access to weapons, combat is not the primary solution.
Players can defend themselves using scavenged items like wooden planks, lead pipes, and a scarce pistol, but the gameplay heavily favors stealth. The footage shows Simon frantically ducking behind crates and walls to avoid grotesque, headless figures that stalk the docks. The emphasis is on vulnerability. You are not a soldier; you are a confused man trying to survive a waking nightmare.
“The first-person perspective isn’t just a camera change. It is about removing the safety net between the player and the horror.”
The CRTV is Your Lifeline
The most talked-about mechanic from the reveal is the CRTV, a handheld analog device that serves as both a narrative tool and a survival essential. This bulky, retro gadget acts as Simon’s eyes when his own fail him.
By tuning the device, players can see the static-filled outlines of enemies through walls and dense fog. This “peeking” mechanic adds a layer of tension, forcing you to look away from the danger to check your screen, then look back to move. It also picks up strange signals and voices, delivering story beats in fragmented, eerie broadcasts that require active tuning to decipher.
How the CRTV Works:
- Detection: reveals enemy locations through solid objects.
- Navigation: highlights paths hidden by the supernatural darkness.
- Story: captures “echoes” of the past that explain the town’s history.
Release Date and Platforms
While the double-header presentation was packed with gameplay details, Konami remained silent on a specific launch day. The trailer contained several cryptic flashes of the numbers “8-19,” leading many to speculate an August 19 release date, but this remains unconfirmed.
What we do know is that the game is coming later this year. It is available to wishlist right now on PlayStation 5 and for PC players via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Launch Information:
- Release Window: Late 2026.
- Confirmed Platforms: PS5, PC (Steam, Epic).
- Rumored Date: August 19 (based on trailer easter eggs).
The mystery of St. Amelia is just beginning to unravel. With its unique Scottish setting and tension-filled stealth mechanics, Townfall looks set to be a worthy, if different, successor to the Silent Hill name.
What do you think about the shift to first-person? Does the Scottish setting excite you? Share your theories using #TownfallMystery in the comments belowt
