Silent Hill Townfall

Silent Hill has made a grand comeback as of late, and Townfall takes the iconic franchise in a more experimental direction – focusing heavily on psychological storytelling and building atmospheric tension. Early teasers suggest a strongly narrative-driven experience that leans into surreal horror and several plot twists, and that will be coupled with thrilling exploration and mind-bending puzzles – and it’s definitely one of the hottest games of the near future.

Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 looks set to continue Playground Games’ mastery of open-world racing, building on one of the most consistently polished franchises in the genre. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Japan, Forza Horizon 6 takes players across an even more dynamic map, deeper seasonal systems, and expanded social features – and of course, plenty of race events. With stunning visuals and an ever-growing roster of cars, Forza Horizon 6 feels like a dream of motorheads come true.

“Happy New Year. In 2026, we will move forward with the ‘Second Phase’ that leads into Kojima Productions’ ‘Third Phase,’” wrote Kojima, who then went on to note that he wouldn’t be traveling around the world this year. Rather, he will be spending his time “staying grounded and laying solid foundations” for the studio’s future projects. He will also be moving ahead with the production of the live-action movie adaptation of Death Stranding.

“Unlike last year, like I was traveling all over the world, this year will be about staying grounded and laying solid foundations. We will continue development on the horror game ‘OD’ and move forward with preparations for the espionage action title ‘Physint.’ This includes casting actors, scanning, and performance capture shoots,” his post continued.

“Also, be pushing forward with the live-action film of Death Stranding, as well as its animation projects, both the movie and series. In addition, we’re preparing several ‘events’ this year. Once things are finalized, I’ll be able to share more.”

“This year also marks my 40th anniversary in the game industry, from 1986, and began my journey in game creation. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and supporting Kojima Productions. I look forward to another great year.”

This “phase 2” of Kojima Productions had been a subject of conversation as far back as April 2025, where he noted that the development of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach coming to an end marked the end of the studio’s first phase. He described “phase 1” as a period where the studio would create a new IP and then expand on it with a sequel, which it achieved with Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

“Phase 2”, however, wasn’t defined very well at the time, aside from Kojima noting that it would revolve around the development of OD and Physint. He also said that he wanted to experiment with other media, including a movie, as well as potentially an anime series.

OD seems to be the main subject of development for the time being, with Kojima stating just last month that there were plenty of hints in the “Knock” trailer from back in September to let players know what the title would be about. He also said that “the system [OD] uses isn’t ordinary. Everything is made in a game engine, and a game is a game, but it’s still a system like no other. That’s why we built a completely new medium together with Microsoft.”

In the meantime, check out our review of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which is available on PS5.

“I think when you first see OD it looks like horror,” said Kojima. “But the system it uses isn’t ordinary. Everything is made in a game engine, and a game is a game, but it’s still a system like no other. That’s why we built a completely new medium together with Microsoft.”

He went on to note that he couldn’t reveal too many details at the risk of upsetting Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. However, he did say that there are plenty of hints about what OD will end up being in the “Knock” trailer, which seemingly features a major hint especially at its end, where it says “for all players and screamers.”

“I can’t say anything else or Mr Phil [Spencer] will be mad at me,” he says. “But actually, if you watch the teaser trailer many times there’s a hint. I really can’t say what it is, but if you watch it 100 times… At the end of the trailer it reads ‘for all players and screamers’. That’s also a big hint.”

Earlier this month, Kojima had also expressed his thoughts about OD, and how he wasn’t sure whether it would even work out. Despite having worked on some unique games in the past, like the delivery-centric Death Stranding titles, Kojima noted that OD will revolve around changing “the service model from the ground up.” What this means, however, is anyone’s guess.

“I can’t say exactly what it is yet, nor do I know if it will work out,” he said. “We’ve created stealth games and delivery games which were unlike anything before, but system-wise, they were similar to other games. This time, we’re trying to change the service model from the ground up, so it should be quite challenging. We’ve packed the trailer full of hints, so if you keep thinking about it, you might figure it out.”

The “Knock” trailer from back in September gave us our first look at what appears to be in-engine footage. The trailer shows us events that are taking place 10 years after some “horror” happened, and has apparent protagonist Sophia Lillis picking up a card that tells her to celebrate by lighting fires. To do this, she enters a room that has a host of different candles that she starts lighting.

While she is in the process of lighting the candles, however, strange things start happening around her. These range from the wails of a crying baby, to the knocking sound from the door behind her constantly growing louder and louder. Eventually the door behind her opens, with some unknown entity entering the room, and the trailer cuts to black before this entity places its hands on Lillis’s face.

OD doesn’t yet have a release date. It is expected to come out on PC and Xbox Series X/S.

We’re obviously excited and can’t wait to see what the latest edition of the event brings to the table. But we’re also hoping that it gives us news about a few titles we’re quite excited about. Without further ado, here are the things we’d love to see at The Game Awards 2025.

1. Fallout 3 Remastered Reveal Trailer

We’re itching at the chance to dive right back into what’s close to the best Fallout title we’ve played. With Bethesda doing a great job of bringing The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion back to life, we can’t wait to see what the studio does with a title that has the potential to have this one among the best remakes/remasters out there.

Given how the studio managed to modernize another of its classics, a trailer for this one would be quite nice, allowing us all to see just how well the remaster manages to recapture the magic of the original.

2. GTA 6 Trailer

Given the delay to this highly aniticpated title, we’d say it’s about time that Rockstar gives us more concrete news about it, It’s probably safe to guess that the game is atleast ready for a trailer at TGA 2025, and it would definitely reassure the gaming community at large that the game is indeed coming in 2026, given how much hype it already has behind it.

This is an opportunity to showcase what it can do, and we sure as hell hope Rockstar is ready to show off its upcoming flagship title.

3. Half-Life 3 Reveal Trailer

The rumor mill has already hinted at a reveal for Half-Life 3 at TGA, and we’re definitely hoping that it got things right this time. While Valve has chosen to let us stew in its silence on this one, that’s not to say that there is any good reason why the studio should choose to make an announcement about a title that’s going to bring back fond memories of the games that came before it.

Once again, it’s an opportunity to bring back a dormant franchise back to the mainstream and enthrall legions of players while you’re at it. Let’s hope Valve sees things the same way we do!

4. Alien Isolation 2

The next chapter of Alien Isolation is a fine choice for a reveal at TGA, considering just how well the first title managed to recapture the magic of the franchise as its players made their way to a desolate facility overrun with Xenomorphs.

With the first game’s story giving us the impression that things were only beginning to heat up, it’s more than about time that the next instalment makes itself known, and gives us an end to the agonizing wait for this follow-up to the first title.

5. The Next Metro Game Reveal Trailer

We think it’s safe to say that you’d agree that it’s about time we got a new Metro game. With speculation rife about a potential reveal at TGA 2025, this is another batch of rumors that have us hoping for their credibility.

A blend of Last Light and Exodus would certainly be a great addition to the franchise, and a trailer showcasing how the game could be the one that cements its future in modern gaming.

6. Max Payne 1 + 2 Remake Reveal Trailer

It’s always good to hear back from old friends, and Max Payne definitely fits the bill. A remake of both the first two games is already on the cards, with Remedy and Rockstar collaborating to bring both titles into one comprehensive package.

We’re hoping to see a trailer of what that new title could bring to the table, and perhaps get ourselves hyped up to dive back into an adventure that has given us so many fond memories.

7. OD

Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele collaborating on a horror title? Sign us up! We’re hoping to hear more about this game at TGA 2025, especially after knowing that Kojima was a part of a Silent Hill title before his infamous fallout with Konami.

This is a horror title that could change the genre if you consider the prodigious skill sets of its makers, and is definitely something we want to hear more about, no matter the occasion.

8. Metal Gear Solid 1 Remake

After Naked Snake’s current-gen debut, it’s only natural to want a franchise that’s been a source of so many fond gaming-related memories to get to us sooner rather than later. We’re hoping that Konami builds on the momentum it has achieved with Delta: Snake Eater, and brings us more remakes of a franchise that continues to be a crucial part of modern gaming.

If the previous remake was any indication, this is a title that’s going to be faithful to the original that inspired it while also making it relevant enough to appeal to newcomers as well.

9. The Next Wolfenstein

We loved The New Order and also enjoyed The New Colossus, which makes us believe that six years is way too long without a Wolfenstein game in the making. Here’s to hoping that TGA 2025 ends that long wait, and that a new title in a franchise that was part of our early gaming years hits the stage and puts it back on the map.

10. Ace Combat 8

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the Ace Combat series since 2019’s Skies Unknown. With the game’s producer already giving cryptic hints about a new game, TGA 2025 might just be the best place to make it official.

It’s going to be great to see the franchise come to life with Unreal Engine 5-powered visuals and any potential tweaks to the gameplay loop that Bandai Namco chooses to bring to the table.

11. Kingdom Hearts IV

It’s been a while since this one was announced, and we’re hoping to hear more about it at TGA. A face-off between Sora and Heartless is surely going to come with a lot of twists and turns we weren’t expecting, and this is a game that we’ve been excited about for a very long time.

Fans of the franchise are sure to share our sentiments, and this is a title that needs to be a part of the festivities and might even prompt some folks to continue celebrating long after the event is over.

12. Final Fantasy Remake Part 3

With the game’s director recently stating that it’s more or less complete, TGA 2025 is the perfect stage to introduce this one to the world. We already know that the game is down to two final titles, with one being officially finalized at the end of the year.

Well, that time is almost upon us, and we’re sure that the game is going to have something for us to chew on at TGA 2025. An update would do well to keep the hype up for a game that many are waiting for, after all.

13. New Light No Fire Trailer

A new IP from the makers of No Man’s Sky is obviously a massive draw, considering the success of the latter. It’s quite an ambitious effort from Hello Games, although its premise and new world might be different from the studio’s previous offering.

A new trailer showcasing the game’s many pillars and gameplay loop is definitely something we’re not willing to wait for, and we’re hoping that TGA is a great occasion for more news.

14. The Division 3 Revealed

The developer might have managed to begin a revival of its fortunes, but so much hinges on its upcoming projects that the studio must get things right. Fortunately, this is a studio that has no dearth of talent that can help it regain its footing, and The Division is one among them

Let’s hope that the developer manages to get its resolutions for 2026 in place before TGA 2025, and that this highly anticipated title is a part of those plans.

15. The Wolf Among Us 2

It’s rare that we have the patience to wait for a sequel to an awesome game for nearly twelve years. However, our patience has now run thin, and we’re hoping that Telltale Games gives us a snippet about a sequel to one of our favorite episodic titles.

We look at it as a new season of a show that managed to capture our hearts and minds before vanishing off the map without a trace. We’re glad a sequel’s in the making, but would like to know more about it if its makers decide that TGA is a good place to give out more news.

And that’s a wrap on everything we’re hoping to see at TGA 2025. Let’s all hope that developers around the world feel the same way as we do, and bring all of their hard work to the spotlight that it deserves.

He noted that the studio has, in the past, made games in the stealth genre (Metal Gear), as well as delivery-based games in the form of the two Death Stranding titles. Despite all of these games being quite different, he mentioned that they still made use of systems and mechanics that had been established in other titles before. He did mention, however, that he isn’t quite ready to divulge too many details just yet.

“I can’t say exactly what it is yet, nor do I know if it will work out,” said Kojima. “We’ve created stealth games and delivery games which were unlike anything before, but system-wise, they were similar to other games. This time, we’re trying to change the service model from the ground up, so it should be quite challenging. We’ve packed the trailer full of hints, so if you keep thinking about it, you might figure it out.”

What Kojima means by this is currently unknown, since he and his studio haven’t really released much in the way of details or marketing materials for OD. The most recent of these was the “Knock” trailer released back in September that offered up some similarities between the upcoming title and Kojima’s own previous work – P.T.. The trailer, coming in at over 3 minutes in length, gave us an idea of what we can expect from OD: namely the fact that it will likely end up being a first-person horror title with an emphasis on puzzle solving.

The trailer also had a heavy emphasis on evocative imagery, however, with candles on a table melting to give way to blood, and one candle even starting too secrete worms. The whole time, as the character tries to light candles on a table, a persistent knocking can be heard on the door behind her. Ultimately, the knocking gives way to the door opening and just about every aspect of the scene panicking in response, including non-living things like a picture of an eye on the window.

While development on OD might have been ongoing, the title did suffer a major setback in the form of the SAG-AFTRA strike from late 2024 and early 2025. Kojima himself took to social media to confirm that the strike had affected development on OD, as well as upcoming espionage title Physint. Questions ab out whether OD was still in development also came about thanks to Microsoft’s massive lay-offs earlier this year. The company would eventually confirm, however, that the title is still being developed by Kojima Productions in collaboration with Xbox.

While you wait for the eventual release of OD, check out our review of the studio’s previous title – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Sources speaking to Insider Gaming reported that they worked on the latter for about a year back in 2023. This collaboration allegedly ended when Kojima Productions requested the developers to move to Japan and “cut ties” with Eidos Montreal.

While it may seem far-fetched, the studio has provided support to other Xbox-published projects such as Grounded 2 and the upcoming Fable. It’s not at all unlikely that it also assisted on OD, though the request from Kojima’s side is certainly unusual.

As for OD, it doesn’t have a release date or platforms, though it’s likely to be an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive. It features actors Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier, though the latter recently passed away. You can learn more about that and director Hideo Kojima’s thoughts on working with Kier here.

In light of Kier’s passing, Hideo Kojima took to social media to pay his own tribute to the storied actor. In his post, Kojima wrote about how he wasn’t able to work with Kier on OD due to an actor’s strike, but how the two still communicated quite often through emails.

“I’m at a loss for words. It all happened far too suddenly,” wrote Kojima. “Because of the strike, we weren’t able to shoot ‘OD’ for a long time, and we were forced to reschedule to next year. Even during that time, Udo and I exchanged emails frequently. We stayed in close contact. When we met in Milan at the end of September, he told me how much he was looking forward to the shoot starting up again next year. He was full of energy then too, making me laugh with his usual ‘Udo-isms.’”

“I still can’t believe this,” his post continued. “Udo wasn’t just an actor. He was truly an “icon” of his time. We’ve lost a great ‘icon’. There will never be another like him. Udo, rest in peace. I will never forget you.”

Kojima was referring to the SAG-AFTRA strike from late 2024 and earlier this year that had affected the development of OD. The effects largely came down to actors not being available for a lot of the work required for the game, including actor and environment scanning, as well as ADR and voice recording.

Kier has had quite an epic career, dating all the way back to the 1960s when he was cast in Road to Saint Tropez as the film’s protagonist. Since then, he has worked on several movies, including Blade, Flesh for Frankenstein, Armageddon, Johnny Mnemonic, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

When it comes to games, Kier has been featured in a few games, with Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and its expansion, Yuri’s Revenge being among his major roles. He also offered his voice for the characters of Dr. Peter Straub from Call of Duty: WW2, as well as Erich in Martha is Dead. While he was slated to also work on OD, his passing has thrown that into question as it is unknown for now whether enough of the work related to him had been completed at Kojima Productions.

OD was originally unveiled all the way back in 2023. However, development has been slow, since Kojima Productions was also working on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, as well as the aforementioned SAG-AFTRA strikes. While the studio may have resumed working on the horror title, it has also announced that it is developing an espionage-based game dubbed Physint.

Image credit: Picture Alliance / DPA / Oliver Berg

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.

The “KNOCK” references Kojima’s vision of horror, with Jordan Peele, who’s working on the project as a writer, offering his own. Text cards reveal various redacted terms, but it apparently takes place ten years after some “horror” and the cursed have “once again”….something. Sophia Lillis, who seems to be the protagonist, picks up a card telling her to “light the fires” to celebrate something.

Upon entering a room with various candles, she begins slowly lighting them, with a baby suddenly crying out. The knocking becomes louder, and it’s not long before some creature enters, placing their hands on Lillis’s face before the scene cuts to black.

Kojima noted that the footage is in-engine and the part with Lillis isn’t a cutscene. Spencer said that Xbox is assisting the team behind the scenes and with Unreal Engine technical work, and the goal is to bring Kojima’s vision to life “for all players everywhere, when it’s ready.”

OD doesn’t have a release date, but it’s currently in development for Xbox Series X/S and PC.