Just as easily as Kojima Productions hogged headlines with the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, so too did it garner attention with the latest reveal of OD. Titled “KNOCK,” it showed Sophia Lillis’s character lighting candles amid a rising knocking. Cue a malevolent yet unseen creature who covers her face before we cut away.
Despite Kojima’s auteur-like tendencies in game development, the process of pitching OD to Xbox Game Studios, specifically Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, was surprisingly straightforward. In a new interview with Famitsu (translation via DeepL), the latter revealed, “When discussing the new game with director Kojima, he shared some truly bold ideas. He stated, ‘I want to create a game that is incredibly frightening.'”
Of course, OD represents more than just a publishing agreement between the two. “Development is progressing with close collaboration between Kojima Productions and Xbox Game Studios members, both in terms of gameplay and technology,” said Spencer, who was “genuinely delighted” with the quality of “KNOCK.”
So when can fans get their hands on it? Not anytime soon, unfortunately. Spencer revealed that the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike meant that “securing filming schedules proved challenging, which has also delayed the game’s development.” They’re working “diligently on it” but for now, there’s no specific release date.
In the meantime, the man himself is working all by himself on stealth action title Physint with PlayStation Studios. He recently revealed three cast members – Charlee Fraser, Minami Hamabe, and Ma Dong-Seok – alongside the first concept poster. Some have speculated that it showcases the protagonist, potentially played by Robert Pattinson of The Batman fame. It also lacks a release date.
