Key Takeaways
1. Hideo Kojima shared heartfelt New Year wishes with fans and announced a transition to the “Second Phase” of Kojima Productions leading into its Third Phase in 2026.
2. This year, Kojima plans to focus on staying grounded and building strong foundations, moving away from extensive travel.
3. He is working on a new horror game titled OD in collaboration with Xbox Game Studios, which will explore innovative uses of cloud technology.
4. The development of Physint is in early stages, with pre-production underway, and it may be Kojima’s last stealth action espionage game, featuring notable actors.
5. 2026 marks Kojima’s 40th anniversary in the gaming industry, and he expressed gratitude for the support of fans and the continued journey of Kojima Productions.
Bidding goodbye to 2025 and welcoming 2026, the iconic video game creator and director known for his revolutionary games, Hideo Kojima, shared his new year greetings, reflected on the journey of Kojima Productions, and set a new goal for the studio.
Heartfelt New Year Wishes
In a touching message on X, Kojima reached out to his long-time fans saying, “Happy New Year.” He also noted, “In 2026, we will advance with the ‘Second Phase’ that leads into Kojima Productions’ Third Phase.”
A Shift in Focus
This year marks a shift for Kojima, who has been busy with various interviews, celebrating the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and touring the world to strengthen his bonds with fans and the studio’s foundations.
However, this year, Kojima has a plan to keep things more “real” or grounded. He mentioned in his post, “Unlike last year, when I traveled a lot; this year will focus on staying grounded and building strong foundations.”
Game Development Ahead
Kojima intends to channel his efforts into creating upcoming games for PlayStation and Xbox. Currently, he is working on a horror game titled OD, in partnership with Xbox Game Studios, which he describes as an experimental horror experience that aims to utilize cloud technology while exploring fear in new and unique ways.
At this point, we have only seen a few teasers from Kojima Productions about OD, so its full potential remains to be seen.
Progress on Physint
Meanwhile, the development of Physint is still in its early stages. The game is moving into pre-production with Sony Interactive. Kojima is working on Physint’s concept as what might be his last stealth action espionage game, confirming that preparations for “casting actors, scanning, and performance capture shoots” are already in progress.
At the celebration for Kojima Productions’ 10th anniversary, it was revealed that the game will feature Carhlee Fraser, Don Lee a.k.a. Ma Dong-seok (who is also involved in Gang of Dragon), and Minami Hamabe. Physint aims to merge cinema with gaming, and it’s part of Kojima’s larger vision for “total media domination.” We hope this works out for him, though he has moderated his expectations for Physint’s launch, mentioning it could take 5 to 6 years before the game is available.
A Milestone Year
This year is significant for Kojima, marking his 40th year in the gaming industry, which he began in 1986. He concluded with a grateful note, saying, “Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support and support for Kojima Productions. I am excited for another fantastic year.”
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