Even though Hideo Kojima’s appearance at the recent Xbox Games Showcase event was shorter than many fans would’ve liked, there’s no denying its significance. Now that Kojima Productions’ schedule is starting to be officially confirmed, it’s clear that the studio is going to have a busy time on its hands over the next few years. With an exclusive project potentially named Overdose in the works with Microsoft, and Death Stranding 2’s existence being heavily rumored, the games that it releases next could make or break its reputation.
Considering how Hideo Kojima’s career has spanned nearly 4 decades at this point, and has featured iconic hits like Metal Gear Solid, it’s safe to say that his own long-term legacy is safe. When it comes to the latest studio that bears his name though, and the next chapter of his journey, things aren’t as clear-cut. Since Kojima’s divorce from Konami in 2015, fans have been waiting to see just how high his creativity can fly without a publisher breathing down his neck. For multiple reasons then, his next few games could define his future.
Kojima’s Overdose Game
As it stands right now details are scarce, at least in an official capacity, when it comes to Kojima’s Xbox exclusive project. At Microsoft’s recent public showcase the publisher wheeled out the creator to confirm the insider leaks that have been swirling online for close to a year. At some point in the future, Kojima will release an exclusive for Microsoft that’s been described by the man himself as the game he’s always wanted to make. When it comes to career defining statements, words like that are hard to top. If the game in question is Kojima’s dream project, whatever legacy it eventually secures will be hard to escape.
Thanks to several leaks that popped up on the internet in the run-up to Microsoft's event, there’s a sense online that the game in question is named Overdose. Those same reports claim that the game is a horror title that utilizes mixed camera perspectives, and stars Death Stranding’s Margaret Qually. It’s easy to imagine a concoction like that, if it turns out to be real, being a deeply personal project for Kojima. Ever since his Silent Hills title was canceled by Konami, plenty of people have been keen to see what could have been. Expectations, and therefore its capacity to be a landmark release, are both high.
Even if Overdose turns out to be a separate project though, Kojima Productions’ Xbox exclusive will still be a significant chapter in the studio’s history. Targeting an audience that’s missed out on its founder's most iconic games in the past, ensures there’s going to be pressure to deliver something special for them. What’s more, reports that the game in question will utilize Microsoft’s cloud technology mean the studio’s new publishing partner will be keen to see results too. While there’s undeniably risks to a move like this, the rewards from a reputation perspective could be even higher if Kojima Productions delivers.
Death Stranding 2
Over the last year or so, several leaks have popped up online that suggest Kojima Productions is in the early stages of creating Death Stranding 2. Thanks primarily to comments from Norman Reedus, it looks like the actor is about to step back into the boots of Sam Porter Bridges. If the game is proven to be a real-project, its existence will be a watershed moment in the life of Kojima Productions. Attempting to build a franchise beyond a single entry is a significant creative step for what is still a newly independent studio. Comparisons will naturally be made between it and Metal Gear, which will raise expectations even further.
The fact that Sony has seemingly been willing to green-light another Death Stranding title is also a significant turn of events. Even though the first game has been received positively, there’s been murmurings online that it failed to meet its publisher’s sales targets. Death Stranding’s Director’s Cut and the game’s PC ports could be viewed as an attempt by Sony to get its investment back from the studio it helped to build. More money being invested into Kojima Productions’ future while it simultaneously works with Microsoft means pressure for it to knock things out of the park will be higher than ever.
Death Stranding 2 is rumored to be in development.
