Konami’s long-running horror series has entered new territory with Silent Hill f, yet not all technical aspects are earning praise. According to an analysis by Digital Foundry, the PS5 Pro version of the game has been negatively impacted by its reliance on PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), resulting in a compromised image quality despite otherwise impressive visuals.
The title marks a new direction for the franchise, shifting away from the familiar fog-laden American towns and instead situating the narrative in mid-20th-century Japan. Developed by NeoBards Entertainment, the game leans heavily on Unreal Engine 5’s toolset, including Lumen, Nanite, and Virtual Shadow Maps. These technologies help craft a world filled with earthy textures, sickly red blossoms, and diffused shadows that deepen the unsettling atmosphere. Digital Foundry praised the game’s art direction, particularly during foggy daytime sequences, which combine advanced rendering with strong creative design.
Gameplay has also drawn positive notes. Combat offers sharp responsiveness, complete with fluid dodges and heavy strikes, while enemy designs range from puppet-like creatures to grotesque fusions of human forms. Cutscenes play a large role in building tension, making use of slow camera work and lifelike character rendering to heighten dread. These moments demonstrate Konami’s intent to blend storytelling and technical craft.
Performance, however, diverges sharply depending on hardware. On a standard PlayStation 5, players can select between Performance Mode, which targets 60 FPS with some traversal stutters, and Quality Mode, which runs at 30 FPS with a cleaner image. But the PS5 Pro version removes this choice, instead forcing a single mode that employs PSSR. While this upscaling solution aims to produce sharper images, Digital Foundry reported it introduces artifacts and a persistent layer of coarse noise, leading to what many will consider a less appealing experience compared to the base console’s modes.
Despite the shortcomings on Sony’s upgraded hardware, the release still arrives with considerable anticipation. Silent Hill f launches worldwide on September 25, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, with early access already available to Deluxe Edition pre-order customers.
