For gamers seeking the most cinematic and intricate games, with a touch of quirky humor, there is no need to look further than Hideo Kojima. WithDeath Stranding, Kojima proved he is capable of delivering his magic even without the support of Konami. He also proved that he has a knack for talking up his projects, and perhaps making them sound more revolutionary than they truly are. History seems to be repeating itself with his upcoming project with Xbox, which is already being described in hyperbolic terms.
Nevertheless, ifDeath Strandingis anything to go by, gamers can expect a unique experience with the upcoming game. According to leaks from reputable sources, the game is a horror title calledOverdose, and it will have players using their mobile phones. This isn’t the only project Kojima Productions is busy with, as there is also aDeath Strandingsequel that is all but confirmed.
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Death Stranding and the Strand Genre
Death Strandingis one of the most important games in Kojima’s career. It came afterKojima departed from Konami, and the whole gaming world was eager to see whether the creative genius would be able to thrive independently. In the months leading up toDeath Stranding’s release, Kojima managed to raise intrigue in the game by describing it in quite enigmatic ways. After interviews, gamers were often left with more questions than answers.
The first surprising revelation was that althoughDeath Strandingfeatures stealth elements it is not a stealth game. It is, as Kojima prefers to call it, a strand game. The strands Kojima is referring to are the connections that players make as they progress through the game. AlthoughDeath Strandingis not a multiplayer game, there are multiplayer elements that help gamers feel a connection to each other despite how lonely things can get. For instance, structures built in one world can show up in another player’s world. Hence, if you found it useful to lay a ladder down to cross a gorge, the next player might also find your ladder useful. Players can leave likes, letting others know they appreciate the things they’ve left behind.
AlthoughDeath Strandingis built on a novel idea, it could be argued that Kojima did talk it up a little too much, and that calling it an entirely new genre may have been stretching things. The multiplayer elements present in the game have been seen in prior games, includingFromSoftware’sDark Soulswhere players can affect the world of another player.
Is Project Overdose a New Genre?
During this year’sXbox and Bethesda GamesShowcase, Kojima revealed that his studio is busy developing an Xbox game and that the upcoming game will make use of Microsoft’s cloud technology. Naturally, this announcement caught the attention of the gaming world which has been clamoring for more details. According to industry insider Tom Henderson, the game is calledOverdoseand is a horror title that will feature Margaret Qualley who plays Mama inDeath Stranding.
Although Kojima has been tight-lipped regarding the upcoming project, he has revealed that it is something he has wanted to make for years, although the technology has never been available to do it. In much the same way that he championedDeath Strandingas a voyage into a new genre, he claims that the upcoming game will feel like an entirely new medium. If pulled off correctly, he believes it will revolutionize things “not just in the game industry, but in the movie industry as well.”
It will be some time before gamers see precisely what Kojima is working on, but he has successfully gotten his fans curious. Before the release of his Xbox game, players will likely receiveDeath Stranding’s sequelfirst. It appears that marketing for the game has already begun, as the eccentric creator has been leaving cryptic clues around for fans to find.
Death Strandingis available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.
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