Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the latest update to the game from NeoBards Entertainment and Konami added a casual difficulty level.

Silent Hill f recently received a major update that added an easy difficulty level, sped up New Game+ playthroughs, and reduced the number of areas where players are forced to fight. This update seems like a reasonable response to general criticism of the latest installment in the popular franchise. However, fans of the series believe that the update stems from a more specific source: the game’s main character.

Japanese actress and model Kato Konatsu lends her voice and appearance to the protagonist, Shimizu Hinako. Kato has been streaming the game since October, fulfilling a promise she made to fans earlier this month. Her stream recordings have garnered millions of views on YouTube.

One reason for the popularity of Kato’s streams is her unique approach to the game. This is not only because of her reactions and opinions, but also because Kato is not your average gamer. Silent Hill f was a baptism of fire for her. Viewers could watch in real time as Kato struggled with the game and its unique combat system. One such event was an encounter with a certain monster that lasted nearly an hour and visibly upset Kato.

This, along with the fact that the game’s difficulty level was lowered after Kato’s successful streams, prompted Japanese fans of the game and her viewers to nickname the difficulty level “Konatsu Mode.” Some fans believe that the game directly influenced Konami’s decision to make Silent Hill f easier.

While this is speculation, Konami likely monitors Kato’s streams closely, as she is the face of the game and the Silent Hill brand. It’s possible that Kato’s streams influenced Konami’s decision, along with other complaints about the combat system.

Source: PC Gamer