It's been a decade since the last Silent Hill release of any kind, and fans have been desperate for a new entry in their favorite survival horror franchise. Thankfully, back in late October, Konami finally gave in, announcing a slew of new Silent Hill projects. A Silent Hill 2 Remake by Bloober Team, a new Annapurna title called Silent Hill: Townfall, an interactive show titled Silent Hill: Ascension, and a brand new movie, named Return to Silent Hill were all announced during the same showcase. But by far the most exciting reveal was Silent Hill f, the next mainline installment in the series.
Being written by Ryukishi07, the author behind the beloved When They Cry visual novel series, Silent Hill f looks set to be a return to form for the long-lasting survival horror franchise. Right now, Silent Hill f is shrouded in mystery, with Konami revealing practically nothing about the game aside from its 1960s rural Japan setting. Even Silent Hill f's very name is mysterious, with fans still unsure of what the 'f' could stand for.
What the 'f' Might Stand for in Silent Hill f
The Silent Hill franchise is no stranger to having some slightly obtuse titles, but Silent Hill f really takes first prize in this category. While Silent Hill: Downpour and Silent Hill: Homecoming don't immediately tell the player about the contents of the game or its themes, they're not overly confusing. Silent Hill f is another matter, and the internet seems divided on what it could mean.
There are a vast number of theories circulating around Silent Hill f's title, with fans having some wildly different takes on what it could mean. Some fans believe that the 'f' in Silent Hill f could refer to the number five, while some believe it could refer to flora, since the teaser trailer shows a girl covered in flowers. Yet other fans believe that it could stand for 'first,' with it being set in the 1960s long before the rest of the series. But by far the most accepted theory is that the 'f' stands for "forte," the musical symbol.
There are a few big indications that this theory could be correct. The biggest indicator is that the 'f' in Silent Hill f's teaser trailer announcement depicts the letter in both lower-case, and in slight italics. This is similar to the musical notation for 'forte,' and a lower-case, italicized 'f' rarely means something else. In musical terms, a forte symbol indicates that the music should be getting louder, or stronger. If this is in fact Silent Hill f's true meaning, then it has some interesting implications for the upcoming game.
One thing that Silent Hill f's title could mean is simply that music has a predominant role in the game somehow. This could simply be a greater emphasis on the game's score and atmospheric audio design, or it could refer to the plot directly, with music perhaps being a key part of the narrative in some way. Alternatively, Silent Hill f's title could be more thematic, instead of a direct, tangible thing. For example, with 'forte' referring to something getting louder or stronger, it could refer to a gradual rise in tension, perhaps implying that the scares in the game will continue to ramp up throughout it. This musical symbolism could even reference the Silent Hill series as a whole, with Konami being able to make its games scarier over time due to evolving technology.
Silent Hill f is currently in development.