We finally have a first look at Kojima’s OD Xbox game

Hideo Kojima first announced his partnership with Xbox for a new game in 2022, with a subsequent teaser revealing the title OD and some of its cast. A more recent three-minute trailer from the Kojima Productions: Beyond the Strand livestream provides a better look at the project, holding true to Kojima’s promise that the game will be both unique and immersive. The game is billed as an experience that blends the lines between a game and a movie, designed to explore concepts that test “your fear threshold”.

The trailer opens with Sophia Lillis’ character using a red card to unlock a red door before stepping into a candlelit room. The scene is quiet but heavy with tension. The rain outside, the knocking sounds, and the way the candles themselves appear unsettling, with some resembling the eerie baby pods from Death Stranding, give the impression that the real threat is not what you see but what is about to happen. At one point, a Geiger counter-like noise grows louder as a shadow approaches before the figure grabs Lillis’ head in a moment that is startling in its intimacy.

The attention to detail is striking. Facial animations created with Unreal’s MetaHuman technology show every flicker of fear, from trembling lips to darting eyes, and the atmosphere feels closer to a psychological film than a traditional game trailer. Kojima explained on stage that the subtitle Knock comes from his own fear of loud knocks, a sound that unsettles him more than anything else. This choice might seem simple, but it highlights his ongoing interest in grounding horror in ordinary details that suddenly feel alien.

He also clarified that Jordan Peele, who is attached to the broader OD project, is working on a separate part of the experience. That could explain why the branding makes a distinction between OD Knock and Peele’s contribution, suggesting OD might eventually be more than a single release. Xbox is providing extensive technical support for the project, and Phil Spencer made a point of saying that Microsoft’s work goes well beyond helping with visuals.

He described OD as “bold, unique, and unmistakably from this studio,” while confirming that development is well underway. Kojima, meanwhile, praised Unreal Engine as a leap forward compared to the technology behind Death Stranding 2, which itself still uses Sony’s Decima engine.

What makes OD intriguing is how little we still know about it. The trailer teases a narrative that may be set ten years after a mysterious event, but details are intentionally redacted, leaving you with more questions than answers. Kojima also warned the audience that the game will be genuinely frightening, even joking that players might soil themselves while playing. It is the kind of statement you expect from him, but paired with the footage shown, it carries more weight.