Nothing is ever straightforward when it comes to Hideo Kojima, and this same air of mystery surrounds Kojima Productions’ forthcoming Xbox exclusive OD. Details of the game’s plot and premise are intriguingly slim, but crafting such a unique experience isn’t easy, even for the man who brought games like Metal Gear Solid 2 or Death Stranding to life. In fact, developing OD is apparently similar to the process of making this 2003 Gameboy Advance title Boktai, which pushed boundaries so hard he was faced with plenty of internal skepticism.
Kojima really is treating players the world over, whether you’re a PS5 or Xbox owner. Players on Team Blue can look forward to the Death Stranding 2 release date, while Team Green members can wait for more details on OD to emerge. Speaking on the huge task of developing games with seemingly outlandish concepts, Kojima says on social media that “it seems I have been acknowledged by creating games that go against the current of the times, such as ‘hide-and-seek’ games where you sneak into a building without being detected by the enemy, or ‘delivery games’ where you enjoy moving around in an open world.”
Furthermore, the Metal Gear Solid creator adds that “for me, the most experimental game was ‘defeating vampires outside your house’ using actual sunlight around you. It was met with fierce opposition from the staff and even within the company.”
Before you get ahead of yourselves – no, Kojima sadly isn’t working on another new game, nor is this a direct reference to what OD will be about. Kojima is referring to the Boktai series, which he initially produced, and began in 2003 with Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand. Released for the Gameboy Advance, players assume the role of vampire hunter, but here’s the catch: you can use a light sensor on the game’s cartridge to help vanquish enemies.
Pretty damn cool, right? Playing the game in direct sunlight charges up your weapons in-game, but if you didn’t get any solar goodness, you’ll need to avoid fights. Or, you can find a Solar Station for a moment of respite. Though the main premise of OD is still shrouded in secrecy, we do know that OD will use Xbox’s cloud technology in an innovative way.
Kojima hones in on this during the game’s initial announcement last year, clarifying that “with Microsoft’s cutting edge cloud technology and the change in the industry’s trend, it has now become possible to challenge myself to make this never-before-seen concept.”
Kojima is also working with a range of filmmakers to bring OD to life, including Get Out and US director Jordan Peele. We reckon their collaboration could be more than just a videogame, but Peele is just as famous for harboring secrets like Kojima. Either way, we know that OD is a new Xbox game that you absolutely need to keep an eye out for.