Kojima Productions’ Beyond the Strand Livestream: Full Breakdown of Every Reveal

Kojima Productions marked its 10th anniversary with a massive livestream titled Beyond the Strand, a sprawling two-and-a-half-hour showcase that celebrated not only the studio’s past but also its bold vision for the future. Hosted by Hideo Kojima himself and joined at moments by Xbox head Phil Spencer and other partners, the event felt like a statement: Kojima Productions has no intention of slowing down. From fresh looks at upcoming games and ambitious new projects to unexpected collaborations involving credit cards and even sake, the livestream was a blend of entertainment, eccentricity, and creative ambition only Kojima could pull off.

OD – The Knock of Fear

The most anticipated moment of the show was undoubtedly the first trailer for OD, Kojima’s new horror collaboration with Xbox Game Studios. The teaser opened with a chilling visual: a crimson door, a keycard marked in red, and heavily redacted text hinting at past horrors and forbidden rituals. While the text deliberately concealed as much as it revealed, the tone was unmistakably sinister. It was a promise of dread, mystery, and a return to psychological horror that could redefine the genre.

Gameplay snippets followed, featuring a storm-battered building, an eerie shrine, and ritualistic candles shaped like babies and young faces. Lighting them triggered unsettling effects – crying, bleeding, and a growing sense of terror. The playable character, portrayed by Sophia Lillis (known from Honor Among Thieves), captured the fear perfectly as she confronted an unseen horror creeping behind her. The cast also includes Udo Kier and Hunter Schafer, lending cinematic weight to the project.

Kojima described OD as an exploration of “the fear of the knock.” Jordan Peele is working on a separate theme for the broader project, but Kojima emphasized his desire to visit real-world haunted sites, claiming he even wants to “scan a ghost” for authenticity. The project, currently subtitled Knock, is still in its conceptual stage, but the ambition is clear: Kojima intends to redefine horror once again. Whether this game will confuse, terrify, or both remains to be seen – but its ambition is unmistakable.

Physint – Espionage Reimagined

From horror to espionage, Kojima also offered a glimpse into Physint, his upcoming action title for PlayStation that many believe will serve as his spiritual return to the genre he mastered with Metal Gear Solid. The reveal featured a poster of a mysterious male figure holding a gun with the tagline, “Here comes the feeling.”

The cast list drew immediate attention: Charlee Fraser (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Don Lee aka Ma Dong-seok (Eternals), and Minami Hamabe (Godzilla Minus One). Hamabe’s character model was revealed in-engine, offering a first glimpse at the studio’s cutting-edge visuals. Fans skeptical of Kojima’s recent output seemed cautiously optimistic, with some admitting that Physint could be “the first interesting thing he’s done in a while.” If OD is a leap into experimental horror, Physint looks like a grounded attempt to reclaim the espionage throne Kojima helped build.

Death Stranding: Mosquito – An Animated Reinvention

Never one to be confined by a single medium, Kojima also announced Death Stranding: Mosquito, an animation project led by director Hiroshi Miyamoto and writer Aaron Guzikowski. Unlike the games, this project introduces a completely new protagonist with a bizarre ability: the power to “suck something really important,” though not blood. The title “Mosquito” hints at vampiric undertones but with a Kojima-esque twist.

The animation style is distinctive, beginning with hand-drawn lines that are later transformed into digital animation. Backgrounds will be handled by Studio Easter, best known for Dandadan. The teaser footage suggested something surreal yet distinct from the games. For those who struggled with the labyrinthine storytelling of Death Stranding, the project could provide a fresh lens on Kojima’s universe – or another layer of confusion, depending on your perspective.

Augmented Reality with Niantic Spatial

Kojima Productions is also diving into AR with Niantic Spatial, the rebranded team behind Pokémon Go. Kojima teased a project that goes “beyond the screen” and integrates entertainment into physical environments. He hinted at scenarios where climbing a mountain could trigger gameplay moments, likening it to “real-world Death Stranding.”

Niantic’s John Hanke echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of technology as a unifying force. “If there’s one thing society needs, it’s something that brings us together,” he said. While details remain scarce, the idea of combining Kojima’s penchant for connection-themed narratives with AR technology could lead to one of his most ambitious experiments yet.

Death Stranding Film with A24

The livestream also gave space to the upcoming Death Stranding film, produced with A24 and directed by Michael Sarnoski. The adaptation aims to capture the essence of the game while telling an original story with new characters. Sarnoski stressed the balance between honoring fans of the series and making the film accessible to newcomers. Given how divisive the game’s storytelling has been – some fans still wonder what the “pee grenades” were really about – this film could provide clarity or simply double down on the confusion.

Merch, Credit Cards, and Sake

In a move only Kojima would attempt, the studio announced collaborations beyond gaming. Kojima Productions is working with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on themed credit cards launching in 2026, complete with a companion smartphone app. These cards will offer points that can be redeemed for merchandise and goods. In parallel, Kojima is partnering with Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten to produce a branded sake called Zaku Ludens, a nod to the studio’s mascot. If nothing else, it confirms Kojima’s knack for extending his creative universe into unexpected places.

Kojima’s 20-Year Vision

Perhaps the most telling part of the event was Kojima’s discussion of his studio’s 20-year roadmap, expressed through his signature metaphors of spaceships and galaxies. Phase one was about building the “spaceship” (the studio itself), launching IPs like Death Stranding, and fostering fan connections. Phase two, the current phase, is about “transferring to a long-range spacecraft,” expanding into multiple platforms and media, from games to anime, novels, and music. By 2030–2035, Kojima envisions a third phase: equipping his team with “the latest gear” to explore “the next galaxy,” creating new IPs across both traditional and digital entertainment.

For some fans, these metaphors are thrilling. For others, they sound like the ramblings of a visionary who sometimes confuses ambition with coherence. Either way, the roadmap makes clear that Kojima Productions is positioning itself as not just a game studio but a cross-media creative powerhouse.

Timeline of Kojima Productions

• 2016 – Kojima Productions founded, Ludens mascot revealed, Death Stranding announced.
• 2019 – Death Stranding released; major stage event at Tokyo Game Show.
• 2020 – BAFTA Games Fellowship Award.
• 2021 – Death Stranding Director’s Cut launched.
• 2022 – Xbox Game Studios partnership announced; new office completed; Death Stranding 2: On the Beach unveiled.
• 2023 – OD officially announced.
• 2024 – Physint revealed.
• 2025 – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches.

Final Thoughts

The Beyond the Strand livestream was quintessential Kojima: ambitious, eccentric, polarizing, and packed with surprises. Whether it was the chilling knock of OD, the espionage thrill of Physint, or the unexpected forays into sake and credit cards, Kojima Productions continues to blur the line between creativity and chaos. Love him or hate him, Hideo Kojima remains one of the few figures in gaming capable of turning a studio anniversary into a global spectacle.