Hideo Kojima reveals more details on Jordan Peele co-created horror game OD

1 hour ago 2

Published Jun 23, 2026, 12:16 PM EDT

'I have thought of a system that will allow them to keep going'

Hideo Kojima first revealed his upcoming horror game OD in 2023 with a trailer that included Sophia Lillis (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) screaming her face off. As a first impression, it sure did make the latest game from the Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid creator seem pretty terrifying. Though Kojima now says he has come up with a way to make the game palatable for even the most scare-averse players.

As part of a wide-ranging feature by Entertainment Weekly on the state of Xbox at its 25th anniversary, Kojima shared some insight into OD. The game will be published by Xbox and is being developed in partnership with legendary horror director Jordan Peele (Get Out, Nope), who is credited as a co-writer alongside Kojima. According to Kojima, "I pitched to many people, to the big companies, and also to the up-and-coming companies. All of them said the same thing," Kojima says in the piece, "They said that I'm crazy, and that they really don't understand the concept — that they will not be able to do it." That is until former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer saw the project and decided to publish it. Spencer's successor, Asha Sharma, says OD, "represents another kind of game."

The interview also includes a new screenshot from OD. It shows a dimly lit hallway painted a sickly yellow. Multiple doors to other rooms shoot off to either side and a creepy figure can be seen lurking in one open doorway. The only major set dressing in the hallway is an old TV that seems to show Sophia Lillis. The screenshot gives heavy PT vibes.

For the unfamiliar, PT was a playable teaser for the canceled Silent Hills project Kojima was working on before he left Konami in 2015. Lillis is set to star in the game alongside Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) and Udo Kier (Flesh for Frankenstein) who died in November 2025. EW notes that a scan was completed of Kier prior to his death but that Kojima Productions declined to share further details on his involvement.

A screaming face held between two giant gray hands in OD

Kojima himself calls OD a project that "no one has ever seen before." He also says he wants to make the game as scary as possible. Still, Kojima wants the game to be accessible to "those that might stop playing when it gets too scary." To do that, he teases, "a system that will allow them to keep going." He doesn't give any further details on what exactly that system might look like as it would give the surprise away. This wouldn't be the first time Kojima has attempted to make his games more accessible to players. 2025's Death Stranding 2 gives players the option to "pretend you won" during any boss fight. To trigger the option, all players have to do is fail the encounter once. It is a radical but simple way to let audiences determine just how much challenge they are willing to put up with and avoids locking anybody off from enjoying the rest of the game's story.

It is easy to see how that principle might be applied to the horror genre. Horror games like Silent Hill 2 and the Resident Evil series often tell some of gaming's best stories but can feel daunting for those averse to jumpscares. If it works, maybe Kojima's system will become standard for the genre.

OD does not have a release date at this time.