Silent Hill 2 Remake May Adopt Persona 3 Reload’s Post-Launch Strategy

After years of lackluster Silent Hill releases and some shaky attempts by Konami to breathe life back into its iconic series, fans understandably approached the Silent Hill 2 remake with caution. But when it hit the shelves for PS5 and PC earlier this year, it managed to blow many expectations out of the water. Developed by Bloober Team, known for hit titles like Layers of Fear and The Medium, this revival of Silent Hill 2 received glowing reviews across the board. It scored a commendable 95% critic approval on OpenCritic and earned an “Overwhelmingly Positive” status on Steam. Fans hailed it as a genuine return to the franchise’s roots, even comparing it to Capcom’s highly successful Resident Evil remakes.

Though celebrated for its loyalty to the original narrative, the Silent Hill 2 remake also introduces several new elements not found in the 2001 PS2 classic. The original game took about 8 to 9 hours to complete, while this remake stretches that to approximately 15 to 17 hours, as noted by HowLongToBeat. Interestingly, despite this increased playtime, it doesn’t include some of the original content such as the Born From a Wish DLC. Considering the path taken by Persona 3 Reload, Bloober Team and Konami might consider re-releasing this missing DLC down the line.

In an intriguing bit of gaming history, both Silent Hill 2 and Persona 3 have seen expanded re-releases over the years with additional content. Persona 3, a beloved JRPG by Atlus, originally launched in 2006, followed by two enhanced editions. The first, Persona 3 FES, introduced a substantial 30-hour epilogue called The Answer, debuting in 2007. Then, in 2009, Persona 3 Portable arrived, offering a fresh narrative choice with the option to play as a female protagonist, exclusive to PSP.

Silent Hill 2, while not exploring as many “definitive editions,” did have a notable re-release. The Xbox version, which came out late in 2001, included the Born From a Wish scenario—a prequel featuring Maria as a playable character. Initially an Xbox exclusive, this DLC eventually found its way to PS2 and PC in later releases.

It’s worth pondering whether Bloober Team should take a cue from Atlus’s Persona 3 Reload. Despite its status as a definitive remake, Persona 3 Reload didn’t originally include all content from its past iterations. However, a revamped version of the Episode Aigis epilogue subsequently dropped as paid DLC. While the $35 price tag stirred debate, the DLC itself was well-received.

An approach akin to how Atlus managed Episode Aigis could work wonders for Silent Hill 2. If Bloober Team and Konami decide to release a remastered Born From a Wish DLC, it could reintroduce fans to Maria’s story, ensuring new players experience all facets of this haunting tale.