Hideo Kojima’s long-awaited collaboration with Xbox is finally taking clearer form. The renowned game creator first revealed in 2022 that he would be working with Microsoft on a new title. A teaser last year introduced the project as OD and unveiled some of its cast. Now, a new three-minute trailer has provided the most detailed look yet at what players can expect.
The trailer opens with actress Sophia Lillis stepping through a striking red door before lighting candles that appear reminiscent of the infant-like figures from Death Stranding. With heavy rain outside and an unsettling series of knocks echoing in the background, her character begins trembling in fear, setting the stage for the game’s horror-driven atmosphere.
Early glimpses of OD suggest that Kojima is once again experimenting with how games can blend cinematic tension with interactive immersion. The visuals highlight the use of Unreal Engine, with Kojima Productions pushing the technology in collaboration with Microsoft.
Xbox backs Kojima’s vision
Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, confirmed during Kojima Productions’ 10th anniversary livestream that development of OD is progressing strongly. He also underlined Microsoft’s role in supporting the project.
“OD is bold, it’s unique, and it’s unmistakably from this studio,” said Spencer. “We’re deeply supporting the production, it’s our technical work on Unreal that we’re doing with the team, both with the flashy [elements] you see on the screen, but also a lot of the behind-the-scenes work.”
This marks a shift for Kojima Productions, as the studio is using Unreal Engine for OD rather than the Decima engine, which was developed by Sony and powered both Death Stranding titles. Kojima praised the technology during the livestream, describing it as “one step higher than Death Stranding 2.”
The game is positioned as a hybrid between film and interactive media, designed to explore what Kojima calls the player’s “fear threshold.” This approach continues his history of pushing boundaries in storytelling and gameplay design.
Jordan Peele joins the wider OD project
In addition to Kojima’s direct involvement, filmmaker Jordan Peele is contributing to a separate part of the OD experience. Kojima clarified that Peele is not working directly on the core game but on another element connected to the broader project. This may explain why the main release is currently titled OD Knock, potentially distinguishing it from Peele’s contribution.
Despite the progress, no release date has been confirmed yet. Kojima and Spencer have both stressed that development is well underway, with significant innovation happening in gameplay, narrative design, and player engagement.
“Kojima is innovating in gameplay, story, and player engagement,” Spencer added. “We’re collaborating closely, and we’re very excited for what’s next.”
For now, fans must wait for further details, but the first trailer makes it clear that OD will be another ambitious and distinctive addition to Kojima’s body of work.
