As one of its most intriguing projects in development,ODfrom Kojima Productions is aiming for a unique horror experience. Since its genesis in 2015, Kojima Productions has sought to bring Hideo Kojima’s bold visions to life with brand-new properties.ODpromises something completely different from the mind-bending post-apocalyptic world of the studio’s first game,Death Stranding. Following recent sneak peeks at its sequel,Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, there are also questions about when the developer will reveal more about its other games, likeOD.
The open-world experience of theDeath Strandingfranchise brought a fascinating sci-fi story to life, and its sequel appears to improve further, at least in terms of graphics.Updates forDeath Stranding 2have showcased some jaw-dropping visuals that demonstrate well-done photorealism. WithODbeing a mysterious venture into horror, visuals will be an incredibly important tool to make the game’s scares as effective as possible. So, whatever update is in store forODnext, there will hopefully be insight into how Kojima Productions' impressive graphics bring its horror concept to life via facial animations.
OD’s Impressive Cast Can Hopefully Make Its Horror Elements Even More Effective
Bringing Kojima Productions' Facial Capture to New Heights
So far, one of the only hints at whatODhas in store for gamers is a short, and incredibly bizarre, teaser trailer.In a recent interview with Variety, Kojima made it clear thatODis pushing the boundaries of what gaming can be. During the interview, he stated, “it’s a bit risky and a new challenge for me within the realm of games.” AfterDeath Strandingexperimented with the boundaries of an open-world setting and plenty of wild concepts, hearing Kojima refer toODas boundary-pushing and risky is quite compelling.Death Strandingand its upcoming sequel already seem like risky projects, but the potential forODto be even more strange makes the eventual release of in-game footage that much more exciting.
The star-studded cast ofODimpresses with their brief performances in the game’s teaser trailer, but there is also the question regarding how these expressions of fear will translate into graphics.The lifelike visuals ofDeath Stranding 2promise a more realistic appearance, but expressions that convey fear, horror, and even disgust can be difficult to effectively capture. Screams and intense emotions can sometimes give off an uncanny valley vibe in games, which could take away fromOD’s scares. However, the teaser’s focus on its cast’s facial expressions implies that this holds a lot of importance.
OD’s Confirmed Cast
Currently, there are only three actors confirmed forOD, but this trio bodes well for the project’s in-game performances.Kojima has a love for featuring well-known actorsin his projects, so the heavy-hitting nature of this cast is no surprise. The best way to showcase such a cast, though, is by making sure facial animations can capture as much intense emotion as possible.
Rumors have also claimed that Margaret Qualley will star inOD, but this has yet to be confirmed. If true, this will be her second Kojima Productions game, as she played two roles inDeath Stranding.
Kojima Productions Subverting Expectations With Its Projects
Embracing Bold Experimentation
Kojima Productions currently has three projects in the pipeline. BetweenDeath Stranding 2,OD, andthe espionage thrillerPhysint, Kojima’s vision is aiming to offer an exciting variety with its titles. When it comes toOD, it will be intriguing to see just how different it is from others in the horror genre.
ODis being co-written by Jordan Peele.
ODmay be a huge mystery, butKojima Productions' surprising subversionof established gaming standards makes this project incredibly compelling and exciting to speculate on. Until more news is offered,ODremains in the shadows, but the next update will hopefully showcase a glimpse at in-game visuals.
