Kojima Describes OD As A Project That Challenges Horror’s Boundaries

OD is shaping into one of Hideo Kojima’s most uncertain and experimental projects. The director says the team cannot yet define what the project will become, and he admits he does not know if the concept will work. The remarks follow new discussions about the Xbox-published title, which has been in development since its first announcement in 2023 and remains mostly unexplained in public materials.

Speaking to ananweb in comments translated by Automaton, Kojima said the project departs from familiar design frameworks even when compared with earlier experiments such as Metal Gear or Death Stranding. Those games introduced stealth systems, traversal structures, and networked features that distinguished them from the market, yet they still aligned with known game models. OD, he said, is built on a different foundation. The team is attempting to rebuild the service structure itself, a shift he expects will be difficult.

He noted that the latest trailer is filled with signals about the project’s direction, though none of them clarify the game’s formal shape. The teaser, subtitled Knock, arrived in September and introduced actors Sophia Lillis and Hunter Schafer through a series of close-up shots and minimal context. Director Jordan Peele is also attached to the production. The footage suggested the pacing and framing of a first-person horror title, but Kojima warned against taking that structure at face value.

The director’s comments also underscored how past perceptions have misaligned with his studio’s intentions. He recalled how early trailers for Metal Gear Solid 4 led some viewers to believe the game would adopt a first-person shooter format. For OD, he signaled a similar potential for misreading, though this time the project extends beyond genre ambiguity. He described it as a game, a movie, and a new form of media at the same time, without elaborating on how these elements interact.

He acknowledged that some audiences will likely reject the project, at least initially. He said the team expects varied responses and accepts that risk while pursuing an untested structure. The developer repeated that the clues embedded in the trailer may help viewers form early theories. Still, he emphasized that OD represents a shift rather than a reinterpretation of established horror design.

OD remains in development at Kojima Productions and will be published by Xbox Game Studios. The studio has not provided timelines for further updates or release information, and no detailed systems have been shown beyond the controlled teaser footage. The project’s scope, format, and distribution model all remain open questions as the team continues work on a concept Kojima describes as challenging and potentially transformative.