Silent Hill f's Writers Reportedly Read 100 to 200 Books Annually
Motoi Okamoto shared his approach to creating a game with a rich narrative.
At Japan's CEDEC 2026, Konami held a lecture titled The Art of Producing Silent Hill, in which the producer Motoi Okamoto and other development team members discussed the creation of Silent Hill 2's remake and Silent Hill f.
During the discussion, Motoi Okamoto mentioned his advice to the creation team, which is to read more books. "Within the team, we put pressure on each other, especially among the scenario writers, to read at least 100 to 200 books a year," Okamoto said (as first reported by GameWatch via Automaton). The producer believes that anyone developing a game with a rich story and narrative should have a strong understanding of how other writers work, and a strong reading habit is essential for anyone producing video games.
What is more, the producer shared that before working with a writer on any project, he makes a point of going through everything that writer has published, which is not just a way of showing "basic respect," but is also vital for getting a feel for the writer's style, individual quirks, and overall strengths and weaknesses.
The writer of Silent Hill f is Ryukishi07, best known for his work on the When They Cry visual novel series. Okamoto chose the writer for a deep background in horror writing, a portfolio that seemed naturally aligned with what Silent Hill is about, and his own admiration for the writer.
Silent Hill f launched on September 25, 2025, with a warm welcome and positive reviews. Now, Konami is working on a new entry to the horror franchise, Silent Hill: Townfall, set in Scotland in 1996, where you play as Simon Ordell, called back to the island of St. Amelia to "put things right." The game is scheduled for September 24.