On 22nd October, Kojima Productions confirmed development of a new project. The studio, headed by its founder, legendary video game auteur and Metal Gear creator, Hideo Kojima, said it was “looking to hire the best-in-class talent” for its Tokyo studio. Details were scarce, but the ever-turning rumour mill surrounding Kojima’s enigmatic projects has again picked up speed.
The only information to be gleaned comes from ambiguous hints in the KojiPro careers page listing. The most explicit of those is desired experience with “Event control system[s] in RPG”, and references to 3D model production for “weapons, gadgets, vehicles, mechas”.
Those familiar with Kojima’s past games will know his fondness for “mechas” – giant, bi-pedal robots – having been the focal point of his popular Metal Gear series. Although speculation of another entry in the series is likely, it’s almost certain this new project won’t be that. Kojima’s messy and public split in 2015 from Metal Gear rights owner Konami rules it out unless both sides reconcile (which is unlikely).
While this may be a disappointing reality for some hardcore Metal Gear fans (myself included), a new and different Kojima title is still an exciting prospect. Let’s take a look at three things it could be:
1. Death Stranding sequel
Perhaps the most likely possibility is a sequel to 2019’s Death Stranding. After all, Kojima has already hinted at the possibility of a follow-up to his atmospheric open world ‘strand’ game.
At launch, opinion was split. Some loved it for its unique gameplay, breathtaking world, impressive graphics, and wacky story – others hated it for some of the same reasons. While the narrative was particularly out-there (even by Kojima standards), the game was a tremendous experiment in trying something new in an industry dominated by copy-paste yearly release franchises. As a result, another venture into the barren yet beautiful world of Death Stranding would be welcome.
The question is – does it really need a sequel? Part of the appeal and charm of Death Stranding was its uniqueness. The feeling that, despite its faults, you were playing something brand new. Without that newness or mystery (of which there was A LOT prior to release), is there really that much appetite for a sequel? The story’s conclusion may have left people scratching their heads, but it did round itself off quite conclusively. Unlike Metal Gear games, which traditionally contain a post-credits scene hinting at a sequel, Death Stranding’s finale felt, well, final.
If a sequel is indeed what Kojima is working on next, he’s going to need to go all out to not only replicate that feeling of uniqueness but also repeat the anticipation that surrounded the original’s release. That latter point may be particularly difficult, especially after what some perceived to be a disappointment following years of rabid speculation. Ultimately though, the world of Death Stranding may just be big and crazy enough to find a second story worth telling.
2. A horror game – possibly a follow-up to P.T.
Was there ever a demo that has made a mark like P.T.? When it was released six (yes, six!) years ago on the PlayStation Store as a free download, fans had no idea what they were getting themselves into. What followed was perhaps one of the most terrifying experiences ever created in a video game.
Trapped in a corridor, you, the player, must circle it continuously as you’re pursued by a ghostly presence – Lisa – while solving nigh-on impossible puzzles in an effort to get out. Revealed as a teaser for a new entry in the Silent Hill franchise, P.T. was critically acclaimed and its cancellation in 2015, after Kojima and Konami split, was met with widespread disappointment. Since then, fans have long hoped for the project’s revival.
Like Metal Gear, Silent Hill is owned by Konami. Any attempt to create the planned Silent Hills (as it was to be called) would need an agreement between the two that is almost certainly not going to happen. However, while P.T. was intended to lead to a full Silent Hill game, its story, setting and characters stand alone, unlinked to the existing series. Therefore, the possibility of creating a follow-up to P.T. using the same concept and execution, but excluding the actual setting of Silent Hill, must be appealing.
While a fully fledged P.T. is what most will be hoping for, there’s also the chance that it could be an entirely new horror game. This is an exciting thought. Kojima certainly proved he has the mind for it. With the absence of any details, one can only speculate.
Is it a route Kojima is likely to go down? There’s definitely an audience for it. Even after all these years, fans still consistently post and share theories about P.T.’s story and themes all over social media. Fan remakes, expanding on the original demo, are also common and prove that it had a lasting impact. Unfortunately, the recent job listing doesn’t lend itself to the horror genre – mechas aren’t exactly a horror motif… But we can dream.
3. Something brand-new – maybe an RPG
It would be a departure from Kojima’s much-loved previous works, but something new has an exciting appeal. Rumours swirled for years around Kojima’s apparent desire to move away from the Metal Gear series, and so him focusing on producing stand-alone games seems like a logical step.
The huge variety of concepts, themes, and ideas he incorporates into his works are almost too unwieldy to contain in a single series. Just look at Policenauts, Kojima’s mid-90s graphic adventure game. Set in the mid-21st century, the story follows Jonathan Ingram, a former astronaut turned detective, found adrift in space having been in cryo-sleep for 24 years. He ends up uncovering and investigating an illegal organ trafficking ring in space. It’s a fascinating premise, and like Death Stranding, it’s entirely unique.
Given the ask for someone with experience in RPGs, a venture into the wildly competitive but fascinating role-playing genre seems like a real possibility. Over the years, Kojima has toyed with RPG elements in his games without ever fully embracing them. With the acquisition of Bethesda and two of the industry’s biggest RPG series (Elder Scrolls and Fallout) by Microsoft, perhaps now is the time for Kojima to stake his claim to the throne as the king of RPGs and give Sony a much needed edge.
What do you hope Kojima Production’s latest project is? Let us know in the comments below. In the meantime, check out our other gaming articles.
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Featured Image Credit: Kojima Productions
