SANTA MONICA, Calif.--Today at Konami's record-settingly brief E3 Press Event, producer William Ortell announced that the company is developing Silent Hill 5 for "next-generation" platforms. The announcement marks the continuation of the long-running horror survival series, which made its debut on the original PlayStation in 1999. Over the next several years, the franchise made its way onto the PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and the PlayStation Portable. It also arrived on the big screen in the form of the Silent Hill film, which was successful enough to spawn a sequel (due out next year).

　　Soon after the Konami event's literal 15 minutes were up, the publisher officially announced that Silent Hill 5 is in development for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Currently set for a 2008 release, the game will follow a veteran who returns to his hometown to search for his brother, who has mysteriously vanished. As is often the case in Silent Hill games, his quest leads him to the titular ghost town, where eeriness is in full effect.

　　Konami is bringing back the sinister atmosphere and grotesque inhabitants of Silent Hill for the fifth game, but other aspects of the game are being changed. Specifically, the publisher said the game will include a new combat system, with an array of defensive and offensive techniques. The game will also sport an original soundtrack from series producer and sound director Akira Yamaoka.