Silent Hill Developer Tomm Hulett Reflects on Fan Backlash and Development Challenges at Konami

The Silent Hill franchise, developed and published by Konami, is renowned for its intricate lore and psychological storytelling, cementing its status as one of the most acclaimed horror series in gaming history.

Over the years, the franchise’s devoted following has contributed to its legacy, but this passionate fanbase has also, at times, directed intense scrutiny and backlash toward those involved in developing newer entries.

Former series producer Tomm Hulett recently revisited his experiences with the series and its fans during an episode of the My Perfect Console podcast hosted by Simon Parkin. Tomm Hulett’s involvement with Silent Hill began with a role as associate producer on Silent Hill: Origins and continued with producer credits on Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Silent Hill: Book of Memories, and Silent Hill: Downpour.

Hulett described joining Konami during this era as "exciting," but explained that the positive energy was soon overshadowed by harsh criticism during the development of Downpour.

At one point, he noted, a widely circulated internet documentary surfaced, spreading misinformation and baseless assumptions about the Western-developed Silent Hill games.

The video, which mentioned Hulett and director Sam Barlow by name, sparked a wave of online harassment.

According to Hulett, smaller YouTubers further amplified the negative sentiment, resorting to personal jabs and caricatures, painting him as someone intent on undermining the beloved series. The repercussions went beyond mere criticism.

Hulett revealed that Konami received death threats directed at staff, including customer support where his wife was the head.

Remarkably, anyone calling customer support for Silent Hill: Shattered Memories would hear a prerecorded message voiced by Hulett’s wife herself.

"She bore the brunt of disturbing threats, while I was shielded from most of it," Hulett said, recounting how this backlash undermined what should have been celebratory moments in his career.

For instance, at the 2012 premiere of the Silent Hill: Revelation movie, Hulett walked the red carpet alone after his wife declined to appear in public due to ongoing threats from fans. Hulett also reflected on the troubled launch of Silent Hill HD Collection, candidly admitting the compilation "did not turn out as hoped." While Hulett stepped away from production duties to care for his wife following surgery, he left Konami with a comprehensive list of necessary improvements before release.

For reasons unknown to him, these suggestions were not implemented, resulting in the collection launching with significant issues.

"It was frustrating to realize the same problems I had already outlined remained unresolved," he shared.

He also emphasized the personal toll the situation took, as his attempts at transparency on platforms like NeoGAF were often met with blame and hostility, regardless of his efforts to engage professionally with fans. Beyond Silent Hill, Hulett’s credits include work on Contra 4, Contra: Operation Galuga, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and The Mummy Demastered.

He expressed concern that decision-makers at large companies like Konami often fail to grasp the emotional and professional impact that such backlash has on individual developers.

As Hulett recalled, marketing personnel may be responsible for multiple major franchises, but the real burden falls on those up front—sometimes leaving developers like himself as the public face for criticisms they cannot fully control. Today, Silent Hill remains a culturally resonant franchise with a multi-platform legacy, including appearances on Nintendo hardware through the eShop and past releases.

The challenges faced by developers like Tomm Hulett remind us of the real human costs behind game creation, particularly when passionate communities cross the line from criticism to harassment.

Konami Silent Hill Tomm Hulett Sam Barlow My Perfect Console podcast Silent Hill Origins Silent Hill Shattered Memories Silent Hill Downpour Silent Hill HD Collection