Silent Hill: Ascension doesn’t really fit one category of media; it’s not quite a television show and not quite a game. An interactive film would have one person making the decisions, but in this interactive streaming series the audience makes the decisions that could change the fate of the characters. The series is considered a canonical entry in the franchise, so it’s crazy to think of the influence viewers actually have over the whole thing.
The series follow multiple main characters from locations around the world who are being tormented by new and terrifying Silent Hill monsters. These monsters lurk in the showdowns, threatening to consume people, their children, and entire towns as recent murders and suppressed guilt/fears drawn them into the darkness.
A real-time interactive system enables millions of viewers to help characters survive. Which ones will make it? If they do live, will they be redeemed, damned, or suffer? Their fates are in the hands of millions. Silent Hill: Ascension will also feature daily live story moments, each different than the last based on audience actions.
“Silent Hill: Ascension will captivate audiences with its immersive experience, spotlighting stunning visuals and live community-driven moments, all while exploring the psychological horror that has made the Silent Hill series so beloved by fans worldwide,” said Jacob Navok, CEO of Genvid Entertainment, via a press release. “By participating in Silent Hill: Ascension you will leave your legacy in the canon of Silent Hill.”
The series should feel unique but familiar. In the same press release, Chris Amaral – Art Director at Bad Robot Games – says, “We’ve gone the extra mile to create a dreamlike world in Silent Hill: Ascension with disturbing, hyper-detailed characters, other-worldly monsters, immersive atmospheres, and an overall audio and visual design that our team is very proud of. The detailed environments, the eerie ambiance, and the realistic characters and monsters should really enhance the horror experience, creating something that is pure Silent Hill, while also feeling unique for the franchise.”
From Genvid Entertainment, Konami Digital Entertainment, and Bad Robot Games, Silent Hill: Ascension will launch later this year. On what platforms, though, remains to be seen.
You can definitely see the American-horror influence. That’s not a bad thing, but it is a bit uncanny.
I’m curious how this one will play out…