Silent Hill: The Short Message, a free two-hour PS5 game widely considered one of the worst entries in the franchise, is being released physically for the first time at a price of $69.99 (£52). The deluxe edition, handled by Limited Run Games, goes up for pre-order on Friday, July 10, and will ship in January 2027.
Game's Reputation and Availability
Originally released as a free download on the PlayStation Store, The Short Message is a first-person title that critics and fans alike have panned for its lack of scares and entertainment value. It followed the disastrous Silent Hill: Ascension, an interactive TV series marred by microtransactions. Despite the franchise's recent resurgence with the Silent Hill 2 remake and Silent Hill f, this title remains a low point.
Deluxe Edition Contents and Pricing
The physical deluxe edition includes art cards, an art poster of the monster, an acrylic keychain, and a certificate of authenticity. However, many consider the £52 price tag excessive for a game that is both short and poorly received. For comparison, £52 is only £18 less than a pre-order for Grand Theft Auto 6, and the same price as Astro Bot, while a physical copy of 2024's Silent Hill 2 costs £12 less.
Upcoming Silent Hill Titles
The next major series entry is Silent Hill: Townfall, set in Scotland despite trailers not making that clear, launching on September 24, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and PC. Developer Bloober Team is also working on a remake of the original Silent Hill, though no release date has been announced.
