Hideo Kojima’s Experimental Xbox Project OD Survives Latest Microsoft Cuts

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·

Hideo Kojima’s Experimental Xbox Project OD Survives Latest Microsoft Cuts

Hideo Kojima's experimental Xbox exclusive horror project, OD, has reportedly avoided the axe as Microsoft reshuffles its funding priorities and cuts other external projects.

Hideo Kojima's ambitious horror project, OD, is officially safe from the ongoing cuts at Microsoft. According to a recent report by IGN, Xbox remains fully committed to publishing the experimental title as the division shifts its strategy toward strict profitability. This news comes as a major relief for the community, especially after Microsoft recently pulled funding from IO Interactive's upcoming online fantasy RPG, which unfortunately triggered studio layoffs.

While Microsoft is clearly tightening its belt under CEO Asha Sharma and reevaluating where its funding goes, high profile auteur projects are still finding a home. OD has remained mysterious since its initial reveal in late 2023, with Kojima describing it as a hybrid between a game, a movie, and an entirely new medium. Featuring involvement from filmmaker Jordan Peele, the project relies heavily on Unreal Engine technology and pushes boundaries in a way that traditional publishers reportedly hesitated to touch.

For players tracking cross-platform and cloud gaming landscapes, seeing a major publisher back such an unconventional risk is refreshing. Kojima himself has admitted that he does not even know if the final concept will work, pitching it as a polarizing experience that people will either love or hate. As Kojima Productions moves past its tenth anniversary and looks toward the future, Xbox's continued investment ensures that this weird and wonderful experiment will actually see the light of day. Source: Eurogamer.

Tags: Xbox, Hideo Kojima, OD, Microsoft, Gaming News

Original article: Eurogamer