Tonight, during the highly anticipated Kojima Productions 10th Anniversary livestream, titled Beyond the Strand, fans were treated to an intriguing update on the studio’s innovative work-in-progress, OD. Hideo Kojima, renowned for his unique storytelling and game design, previously described OD as not just a game, but also a movie and a new form of media. The livestream featured a brand-new trailer, and Kojima was joined on stage by Xbox CEO, Phil Spencer.
During the event, Phil Spencer expressed excitement about the project, stating, “At Xbox, we empower creators to push boundaries, and that’s exactly what the game OD represents.” Kojima further elaborated on his vision, expressing a desire to “go over the system” of traditional films and games. This was followed by a showcase of footage from OD, which is believed to be powered by the Unreal Engine, likely the latest version, Unreal Engine 5. The choice of engine may be influenced by the fact that the Xbox-backed title cannot utilize Guerrilla's Decima engine, which is owned by Sony.
The new trailer, which can be viewed below, includes a warning from Kojima: “It’s very scary.” The motion capture quality in the trailer is particularly remarkable, showcasing the studio's commitment to excellence in the horror genre. Additionally, the game has received a fresh tagline: “For all players and screamers.” Phil Spencer concluded with a bold statement, emphasizing the studio's mission: “We have one goal in mind: to bring Kojima's vision to life for all players everywhere.”
In a surprising turn, Kojima revealed that the game also has a new subtitle: Knock. This title reflects Kojima’s intention to instill a profound fear of the “knock” sound, which he personally finds frightening. “I am afraid of the ‘knock’ sound, so I wanted to make that very frightening,” Kojima shared. In an intriguing twist, he noted that Jordan Peele is involved in another aspect of the OD experience, hinting that the subtitle, Knock, might pertain to a specific episode that Kojima is developing. However, the details remain unclear.
Kojima humorously mentioned his aspiration to “win an award” for being the first person to motion-capture a ghost, adding a light-hearted touch to the otherwise intense theme of the game. He also shared that one of his scariest experiences was standing on stage next to Phil Spencer, a relatable sentiment for many in the gaming community.
So, what else do we know about OD? The game first emerged in 2022 amidst rumors that Kojima was developing a horror title titled Overdose. These rumors were confirmed, and in 2023, a 10-minute presentation was released, although it did not reveal substantial new information. As anticipation builds, fans are eager to see how Kojima’s visionary approach continues to unfold with OD.
