Hideo Kojima has been on a roll lately. Having released Death Stranding 2 earlier this year, he’s hard at work on two different projects. One is the Xbox-exclusive horror game OD, followed by the espionage thriller PHYSINT.
Overdosing on Fear with OD
OD is a collaboration between Kojima and horror filmmaker Jordan Peele. The first proper trailer, KNOCK, was revealed during Kojima Productions’ 10th-anniversary event. It’s being developed with Xbox Game Studios using Unreal Engine 5 and MetaHuman facial scanning technology.
We see Sophia Lillis’ character in first person, trying to light some candles but she keeps getting distracted. One time by the sound of a crying baby. There’s also some strange knocking. When she lights one candle, it looks like the head of a baby. The baby’s head starts to bleed as something weird (worms? Snakes?) crawls out of the other one.
We switch to a close up of Sophie’s face as she grows more terrified by the second. Strange rashes or burns appear on her skin, tears stream down her eyes as an unknown figure walks towards her. Then the screen switches to black as soon as the creature puts its hands over the woman’s eyes.
At times, it feels like the spiritual successor to Kojima’s canceled P.T. demo. Fear that creeps in through ordinary actions, the mundane made terrifying. The imagery sticks with you, whether it’s the half-lit ritual or the flashes of something unnatural just outside view.
Kojima himself described OD as an avant-garde exploration of “overdosing” on fear. With a cast that also includes Udo Kier and Hunter Schafer, the game promises to look as cinematic as it feels unnerving.
PHYSINT and the Next Generation
Another project that was revealed during Kojima Productions 10th-anniversary event was PHYSINT. Early footage included a facial animation test. The pictures were so detailed, it made people think it was a glimpse of graphics for the PlayStation 6. Kojima hasn’t confirmed what platform PHYSINT will be on, since the game is still five or six years away. Many feel the timing lines up with Sony’s rumored 2027 launch of the PS6.
Actors already confirmed include Charlee Fraser, Don Lee, and Minami Hamabe. A poster teased the project with a shadowy figure, and it’s causing speculation that Robert Pattinson will play the lead character. The poster’s silhouette bears a striking resemblance to him. Also, Kojima was spotted talking with Pattinson at Cannes earlier this year. If it’s true, Pattinson would be Kojima’s most high-profile lead yet.
Kojima Is Pushing Games Beyond Play
Kojima is famous for making his video games feel cinematic, almost like playing an interactive movie. Tapping film director Jordan Peele for OD or casting actors is a part of his distinct way of telling his stories.
With OD, he’s looking to see how far he can go as he brings fear to life. With PHYSINT, he’s crafting the next big spy thriller while experimenting with cutting edge hardware. I have a feeling these games will continue Kojima’s legacy of blurring the lines between gaming and film.
