Silent Hill 2 Remake Still In Development, But Ascension Causes Concern

Updates have been scarce around the hotly anticipated Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober Team. But when questioned on Twitter, the studio confirmed the project remains in active development, easing fan worries of cancellation. However, the recent Ascension interactive streaming series highlights ongoing franchise challenges.

Key Highlights:

• Bloober Team confirms Silent Hill 2 remake still in progress.
• Studio claims communication and updates are Konami’s responsibility.
• Separate Silent Hill Ascension app draws criticism as “barely a game”.
• Monetized episodic story seen as cynical embrace of pay-to-play.

The Silent Hill franchise made a splash by announcing several projects after over a decade dormancy. These include a remake of its seminal 2001 psychological horror masterpiece along with some experimental side experiments. However, their radically different receptions signal an IP still finding its footing.

Remake Reassurances

When asked plainly on Twitter whether the Silent Hill 2 project was cancelled from lack of updates, developer Bloober Team simply responded “not true, of course not.” Further inquiries about timing were met with clarifications that publisher Konami oversees communication and messaging.

pic.twitter.com/4RbUKfX0EN

— Bloober Team (@BlooberTeam) November 21, 2023

So while fans eagerly await substantial news or footage, work apparently continues out of public view. As beloved stewards of the horror genre, Bloober carries pedigree, but pressure exists to modernise such a revered game appropriately.

The devs do provide updates on its status every few months, but the lack of released content is why some fans (rightfully so) tend to think the game has been cancelled.

What we do know, is that the lifespan/runtime will be dramatically increased which is always a good thing. This means the title won’t be completed relatively quickly, and when you’re paying the big bucks for a game you kinda want it to last or at least not be over so quickly.

Ascension Fallout

In contrast to cautious remake optimism, the recent Silent Hill Ascension interactive streaming series was met with swift disdain for its unconventional format.

Billed as an developmental community-driven story, the app’s heavy monetisation and limited actual gameplay feel cynical even by modern standards.

Critics deemed it emblematic of the industry’s worst excesses like microtransactions and exploiting fan loyalty. Even in reintroducing the fog-filled horror setting, Ascension represents corporate interests over artistry.

What The Future Holds

The dichotomy between remaking an innovative classic and this experimental companion highlight the challenges Konami faces restoring the iconic horror’s elegance after missteps of the 2010s.

While seeing the disturbing town rendered with modern graphics intrigues devoted fans, Ascension makes clear that the franchise risks losing identity if prioritising gimmicks over substance.

With multiple side projects brewing, including the PS5’s Silent Hill F, the onus remains on Konami to justify rebooting such a beloved franchise. Survival horror connoisseurs hope central tense storytelling and atmosphere endure above any peripheral attempts at reinventing dimensions.

More Silent Hill Content:

• SH2 Remake May Explore Pyramid Head’s Origins
• New Activity Hints at Impending Reveal
• Ascension Trailer Teases Impact of Player-driven Choices

The potential still exists for the disturbing psychological foundations supporting chilling monsters and locations to captivate new audiences. But knee-jerk monetisation schemes undermine restoring reverence.

If mishandled, tarnishing such fondly remembered source material could inflict irrevocable damage. Fans cling to optimism that Konami recognises the weight of responsibility in reviving this legendary title.