Just recently, Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions celebrated the studio's 10th anniversary with the "Beyond the Strand" event, a mini direct-like showcase unveiling the next projects of Kojima Productions after Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Being a huge fan of Kojima himself, this feels like early Christmas.
The announcements are exactly what we expect them to be: updates on his upcoming entries that we've heard about years prior, as well as a 20-year plan for the studios' future. In this series of pieces, we'll talk about the major reveals during the event as well as my personal thoughts on what to expect for these titles. Let's start with OD: Knock.
What is OD: Knock?
One of the biggest surprises today is how Hideo Kojima finally showed us more of his upcoming horror title, OD. Now titled OD: Knock, this is basically Hideo Kojima's attempt at remaking his canned P.T. from the ground up. The best part about all this is that it's going to be without Konami's supervision, which means it's going to be another one of those games where Kojima is left to do whatever he wants. The result is evident in the 3-and-a-half-minute trailer.
As a big fan of horror titles, a Hideo Kojima horror game is something that I've always gravitated to. He just does things completely bizarre with his odd mechanics and obscure narrative direction, which is most prevalent with what he did with P.T. It was a horror game that many players refuse to stop talking about, and it's certainly one of Konami's biggest fumbles of all time. Even I still think about playing the demo to this day, if I had it.
OD: Knock's star-studded ensemble is also something to look out for, as major Hollywood actors like IT's Sophia Lillis and the iconic Hunter Schafer will lend their acting prowess in this game.
What Does OD: Knock's Gameplay Tell Us?
Speculation has already risen on how OD: Knock will play out in terms of gameplay. The trailer gave us a brief glimpse into how the horror unfolds, but not much was revealed in terms of interactivity and exploration, only that it plays in a first-person perspective. Personally, I see this as more of an interactive horror experience than something akin to his Death Stranding games, where open-world and sandbox are encouraged. He did mention in a previous interview that OD will be a completely fresh experience, and it will split the fans. If that's not Kojima, I don't know what is.
To temper your expectations, this might be a movie-like experience that Hideo Kojima is going for. But I see this as a win since there are so many concepts possible with a game focused on a cinematic story. There will be some interactable moments where you can walk and explore, but given the game's limited scope so far, this could be a purely cinematic-heavy experience, as evident with its casting choices, like with the famed German actor Udo Kier.
One crackpot theory I have is that OD: Knock is going to take place in a single location, like P.T. with its shifting hallways. Sophia Lillis is trapped in this dilapidated apartment with nothing but her wits and survival skills, and Udo Kier could be the monster that haunts the players like what Lisa did in P.T.
What's the Story of OD: Knock?
The story of OD: Knock is also interesting. It feels like it could take place within the Death Stranding universe, but without a full grasp of its narrative, we can't truly tell. Kojima mentions that he and Jordan Peele are trying to instill a new kind of fear with "knocking," and that's going to be an interesting take on the horror genre, as this is clearly going for an auditory sense of fear.
There are also hints of sci-fi elements with mentions of 3D scans in the trailer's series of texts, but there is also something involving the occult with a "Sinister Ritual" and an overabundance of baby statues (and candles).
What Else Can We Expect from OD: Knock?
As for the tiny details, there are obvious symbolisms and imagery hidden throughout the trailer, and eagle-eyed fans will notice shifting details like the sticker of the eye closing and opening. As to what it entails, we have no idea. It's going to be another case of Death Stranding reveal trailers, where basically anything can be up to interpretation until we can finally get our hands on the game.
OD: Knock is being developed using the Unreal Engine 5, which is why Sophia Lillis' character models look very lifelike. It's going to be the studios' first use of Epic's Unreal Engine 5 engine as they veer away from what Death Stranding 2: On the Beach had with Guerrilla Games' Decima Engine, which was responsible for bringing the two Horizon games to life.
Being an Xbox game, I wouldn't be surprised if this title comes out on Xbox Game Pass by the time it releases. But for now, we're still trapped in speculative territory like any other Kojima game before it comes out.
OD: Knock looks to be a promising new game that could shift the way we see video games in the future, especially on the horror side of things. There are still many questions and other information we don't know just yet, but that's always been the appeal of a Kojima game. For now, all we can do is just speculate.
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