Big companies told Hideo Kojima he's 'crazy' for making OD: 'it's something that no one has ever seen before'

Hideo Kojima's New Horror Project OD: A Game Like No Other

Hideo Kojima, the celebrated creator behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, is making his return to the horror genre with a mysterious new project called OD. While details remain scarce, it's known that OD is co-written with Jordan Peele, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Get Out, and features a stellar cast including Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and a posthumous performance from Udo Kier. Despite early trailers suggesting a "standard horror game," Kojima insists it's far from that — OD is a project that defies expectations and aims to redefine the genre.

According to Kojima, the concept for OD has been in development since his time working on Death Stranding. The idea was born from his desire to create something truly different. "I wanted to do something new. I wanted to do something different," Kojima told Entertainment Weekly. He revealed that despite his reputation in the industry, many companies were skeptical of his vision. "I pitched to many people, to the big companies, and also to the up-and-coming companies. All of them said the same thing," he said. "They said that I'm crazy, and that they really don't understand the concept — that they will not be able to do it."

Despite the initial resistance, OD has found support from key figures in the gaming world. Phil Spencer, the former head of Xbox, was clearly interested in securing a crowdpleasing exclusive, especially after Kojima's long-standing relationship with PlayStation. While most Metal Gear Solid titles haven't been exclusive to Xbox, recent reissues have brought them to the platform. Death Stranding and its sequel were originally PlayStation exclusives, with the first eventually making its way to Xbox, but the second remains exclusive to PlayStation.

Currently at the helm of Xbox is Asha Sharma, who has expressed strong support for OD. She described the project as "deeply moving" and a representation of "another kind of game." Sharma also emphasized the importance of an open platform for creators and developers. "We need to make sure our platform is sufficiently open so more creators and developers can come on board and be successful, because the next Kojima is yet to be known," she said.

Kojima has shared a bit more about his vision for OD, revealing that he aimed to push the boundaries of what makes a game scary. "I wanted to go beyond the limit of the 'scariness' that other games had reached," he said. "It's a single-player game, and I wanted to make it as scary as possible. But for those that might stop playing when it gets too scary, I have thought of a system that will allow them to keep going." However, Kojima cautioned against revealing too much, as it could spoil the experience and potentially cause issues with the project's development.

OD has yet to receive a release date, but the anticipation is already building. With Kojima's reputation for innovation and a collaboration with a filmmaker known for his bold storytelling, OD promises to be a groundbreaking entry in the horror genre. Fans and critics alike are eagerly waiting to see what this mysterious project has in store.