Blue Box Game Studios’ upcoming project,Abandoned, has managed to stir up quite the controversy since its announcement. Fans have noticed a number of apparent allusions to theSilent Hillfranchise, leading some to believe the game is nothing more than a ruse to disguise Hideo Kojima’s next project. Blue Box Game Studios, however, has denied these suggestions throughout the development ofAbandoned, leading to many second-guessing theSilent Hilltheories.
Others, however, have continued to search for evidence of a correlation between the two projects. Quite the community ofAbandonedconspiracy theorists has emerged since its announcement. In particular, the announcement ofMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Painhas given many fans confidence thatAbandonedis actually the long-awaited revival of theSilent Hillfranchise.The Phantom Paincould explain whyAbandonedconspiracy theoristshave been convinced ofAbandoned’sties toSilent Hill.
RELATED:Why the PS5 Abandoned App May Not Be What Players Expect
Why Are Silent Hill Fans Watching Abandoned Closely?
After initially claiming to have no ties to Hideo Kojima orSilent Hill, Blue Box Game Studios later teased thatAbandonedmight not be the game’s actual name. Instead, the actual name starts with an S and ends with an L, which conveniently would fit the narrative thatAbandonedis aSilent Hillgame.
It seems odd that Blue Box Game Studios wouldn’t have made that correlation before it put out the tweet, especially after acknowledging and dismissingSilent Hillfans' conspiracy theories surroundingAbandoned. Blue Box Game Studios quickly issued a correction, stating that they have no ties to Konami,Silent Hill, or Hideo Kojima. This did very little to calm the masses, however, who had spotted some interesting details in the game’s trailer.
For starters, in what is one of the more convincing elements of the theory, there is no trademark for Blue Box Game Studios, despite claims that there are in anAbandonedtrailer. This isn’t all that the theorists found, as the trailer includes an apparent reference toabandoned 2014 projectP.T., which was ultimately revealed to beSilent Hills. It must be said that the backing behind this part of the theory is fairly weak. At around 49 seconds onAbandoned’s announcement trailer, a brick wall tagged with ‘KILL THE TRESPASSER' is shown, but a tree partially covers this. The two letters the tree covers are a P and a T, soP.T.or T.P. depending on how the theorist looks at it.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain’s Announcement
Theories surroundingAbandonedactually beingSilent Hillaren’t entirely unfounded, as Hideo Kojima has a history of misdirection. Specifically, Hideo Kojima was in full conspiracy mode for theannouncement ofMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.The Phantom Painwas not teased by Konami or Kojima; instead it was announced by Moby Dick Studio, and the game was announced simply asThe Phantom Pain. With this additional context, it makes a bit more sense why fans were convinced by the S and L tease.Abandonedmay well have actually beenSilent Hill: Abandoned. Of course, this is still quite a stretch, and the theory still has many doubters.
Another way in whichHideo Kojima trickedMetal Gear Solidfanswas through the name of Moby Dick Studio’s founder, Joakim Mogren. Mogren appeared in interviews with a completely bandaged face, explaining that he had an accident but he should be okay by GDC. It was at GDC that all was revealed,The Phantom Painwas actuallyMetal Gear Solid 5, and Joakim Mogren was an anagram for Hideo Kojima.
InAbandoned, fans have been clinging to the idea that Blue Box Game Studios’ CEO Hasan Kahraman is merely a front for Kojima. Fans believe this as Hideo translated from Japanese to Turkish is Kahraman. However, Hasan Kahraman has maintained that his name is genuinely Hasan Kahraman.
Overall, it still isn’t entirely clear whether or notAbandonedis a front for a newSilent Hillgame. There have been plenty of apparent hints towards a repeat ofMGS5’sannouncement, but equally, there has been adamant refusal from Blue Box Studios and affiliated parties. For the time being, it’s safe to assume thatAbandonedis actually its own unique game, separate from theSilent Hillfranchise. When the next update onAbandonedwill arrive is, for now, unknown, leaving fans in the dark.
Abandonedis currently in development for PC and PS5.
