Like many others in these awful times, the people behind the legendary Mega64 YouTube and Twitch channels saw their revenue drop drastically in?? the last month. They only have enough to keep both the cool RGB lights and even the regular ones on for a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, in a Twitch stream that proved spooky for the wrong reasons, Mega64 revealed a bunch of serious?? unexpected hurdles that the group is dealing wi??th.

What happened to Mega64?

Declining ad revenue - The Internet hasn't been kind on conten??t creators lately, and Mega64 has been having it unfairly rough. Though their content retains the same level of quality, YouTube just isn't as lucrative as it once was.

Merchandise Problems - While the group takes the blame for takin??g longer than it should to deliver some of its merchandise, merch also saw an unrelated decrease i?n sales and profitability due to inflated production costs.

Bad Faith actors - The group has sadly falle??n prey to a yet-unknown scammer or party of scammers which has stolen thousands of dollars in donation money and also prevented the group from getting further donations on their regular donation channels.

What is Mega64?

Mega??64 began as an innocent project by friends Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield that turned into one of the most beloved gaming-related channels on YouTube.

I was already an adult when I was first exposed to Mega64's content, but I'd be lying if I were to ignore the group's influence over my work and overall desire to mak?e video game-related content.

Among many other things, Mega64's YouTube channel is a trailblazer of video-game-related parodies. One problem with Internet comedy is that it tends to grow old fast. We all know that. I re-watched some of my favorite Mega64 videos o??f the past to avoid getting dunked on for my possibly outdated humor, and can gladly say they ?absolutely hold up.

The first Mega64 video I ever saw, VG Fact Checkerz, is a staple ??of Internet comedy. It does a great job of spoofing answers to ridiculous questions not even the highest-level Redditors were asking back then, and features a contend??er for the best ending for a YouTube video ever:

Mega64 is also unique in that it somehow managed to get actual video game personalities to go along with their hilarious spoofs. Below you can find Final Fantasy creator Hironobu?? Sakaguchi himself spoofing his own history at Squaresoft jus??t because he gets it.

They e??ven got Hideki Kamiya, one of gaming'??s most volatile personalities, to poke fun at his own infamous need to block anyone who so much as says anything he doesn't vibe with on Twitter.

The holy grail, to me, at least, is possibly their Death Stranding spoof. There's a twist where we learn it was at least partially filmed by Hideo Kojima himself, who then got fired by the Mega64 crew for hi??s poor workmanship.

If you're not familiar with Mega64 �a possibility, considering the unbelievable reality of how one of the best thi??ngs on YouTube for over 20 years has never managed to break one million followers �You might think I'm trolling you, but it's?? real. It's all real:

Right now, joining the Mega64 Patreon is the best way to directly contribute to the channel. You can also help via Ko-Fi donation. Sharing your favorite Mega64 videos on Twitter wi??ll surely remind at least a few people of some of the best moments they've had on the Internet, and that's already something.

This past year in the gaming industry has been riddled with disheartening closures of great studios and layoffs of professionals we dearly miss �many even on a personal level. Mega64 is giving us the rare chance of actually preventing something good from disappearing, so consider doing with that information the c??oolest thing you can? think of.

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Nobody can deny that Hideo Kojima, the creator of game franchises like Metal Gear or Death Stranding, ha??s made an enormous impact on the video game indust??ry. But the question is: will aliens be as impressed as us humans?

Per Automaton, Kojima recently held a fan Q&A for Anan News, in which he proposed this bizarre scenario. When someone asked him what the most important mindset is for a game creator, Kojima said that they should a?lways strive to make games that are personally satisfying. He also compared game developers with artists whose paintings people appraise even hundreds of years after their deaths.

"Games and films also remain as objects to be passed down through generations after their creators pass away," said Kojima on the matter, and then added: "If I make something I’m satisfied with, centuries later aliens?? may come and say, 'that’s awesome.' I think that’s what it means to leave something behind." But Kojima's objective is apparently gaining the approval of not only hypothetical extraterrestrial beings but also the spirits of the afterlife. Earlier on in the Q&A he also stated: "I'm lucky to have found games in my life. I hope to make games even after I go to the a??fterlife to entertain the dead".

Kojima already has a prestigious legacy, so he shouldn't even worry

As quirky as it may sound, Kojima's statement is completely valid for a talented and complex?? creator like him. He, and many other similar game developers, wants people to remember him for his creations, while also personally satisfying himself with what he creates. The thing is, Kojima has already left an enormous legacy ?in the gaming industry, and fortunately, he hasn't stopped making video games yet.

Kojima is famous for creating Metal Gear, one of the most recognizable and influential franchises that not only became synonymous with the stealth action genre but also made a huge impact due to its complex story, deep political commentary, brilliant mechanics, and hilarious self-referential humor. If that wasn't already enough, Kojima also directed and/or produced other extremely creative games for Konami, like the Boktai and Zone of the Enders series.

Even after he left Konami, he kept making unique games that were like nothing that came before them, like his newest critically acclaimed title, Death Stranding. And he plans to keep releasing promising projects, like the bizarre Death Stranding 2: On The Beach or the mysterious OD, which he's ??writing alongside Jordan Peele. Kojima has nothing to worry about: He has already made enough incredible video games that can seamlessly impress aliens, gh??osts, and humans alike.

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In a recent talk with director Alex Garland for Famitsu that got caught by Automaton Media, Hideo Kojima spilled a few interesting details about the upcoming Death Stranding movie adaptation.

“Many of the offers I received [for Death Stranding’s movie adaptation] from other film companies?? proposed big-budget adaptations with extravagant explosions, but I didn’t want that. Together with A24, I want to make a slightly different ?film,�Kojima stated.

Death Stranding is being co-produced by A24, an entertainment company with a varied filmography under its belt. So far, it has been behind titles including Ex Machina, The VVitch, Pearl, Hereditary, and Best Picture Oscar winner Everything Everywhere All At Once.

On top of the studio's eclecticism that Kojima will surely use to let his imagination go wild, A24 is also a company known for doing?? a lot with little.

Still, Kojima had some apprehensions. “With Civil War becoming a huge hit, I have a feeling that A24 is raising the budget and scale [of Death Stranding], so I’m thinking about how to suppress that.�/p>

Either way?, Kojima stated that A24 has a unique presence in the industry, one that aligns with the vision of Kojima Productions, saying, “it will take time, but it will turn out well.�He also joked that A24 is probably the right choice, as his birthday is on August 24.

Kojima wanted to make it in movies before pivoting to the video game industry, and while he could have used this opportunity to finally jump in the director's seat, he decided to stick to a producer role. We still don't know who'll direct Death Stranding or when it'll come out, but, funnily enough, it'll likely see the light of day before the Metal Gear Solid movie adaptation.

As for the game sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, is set to release sometime in 2025.

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Konami seems very eager to get the Metal Gear series back into the spotlight, as evidenced by it porting some of the classic titles to modern platforms (with seemingly more ports still to come) and the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. This new era for Metal Gear, however, obviously lacks any involvemen??t from series creator Hideo Kojima, though producer Noriaki Okamura has said it would "be a dream" if he got to work with Kojima again.

During a recent Metal Gear Production Hotline video to discuss the series (as spotted by VGC), Okamura, alongside promotions director Jiro Oishi and creative producer Yuji Korekado, answered fan submitted questions. The first one asked if any staff members from the original games could ever return to contribute to the series, even in a supervisory role, which Ok?amura described as a "tough one."

Okamura, who has served as a producer on titles like Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Metal Gear Survive, said it wasn't his place to speak on behalf of anyone outside of Konami, but he personally would "like nothing better than to work with Mr. Kojima and the rest of the team again. If that could happen, that would be the dream." Although ??he also acknowledged that such a dream isn't entirely feasible as "people have moved on to new things and commitments, and that's just our current reality."

Okamura's desire to collaborate with Kojima once more is a nice sentiment, and one many long-time fans would love to see come true. However, it's very difficult to imagine Kojima ever working with Konami again. As a reminder, his departure from the company in 2015 was far from amicable, and effectively turned Konami into the games industry's biggest villain for a long time. Not only did Konami remove Kojima's name from the cover of Metal Gear Solid V (the final Metal Gear game Kojima worked on), he was reportedly barred from attending The Game Awards that year (per IGN), meaning he couldn't accept the award for Best Action/Adventure game, which MGS V won. Let's also not forget that before he left, Kojima announced he was helming a new Silent Hill game with that incredible P.T. teaser, only for Konami to cancel the project and scrub P.T. from the PlayStation Store.

It's not as if Kojima has struggled to find new work in the following years either. He's enjoyed great success after founding his own studio and partnering with Sony to releasing Death Stranding. A sequel is now in the works, but Kojima is also working with Microsoft on an Xbox exclusive horror game called OD, and he's basically doing Metal Gear again with a new stealth espionage game, known only as Physint for the time being. Knowing all that, why would he ever return to Konami, even if it was for a partnership on a new Metal Gear?

While Kojima may have nothing to do with the Snake Eater remake, dubbed Metal Gear Solid Delta, Okam??ura did stress that he and the rest of the original development team will be credited for th??eir work. "They're a part of these games too, so absolutely, they're in," he stressed.

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Can't get enough Death Stranding? Well, you're in luck. The documentary film Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds shows the creative process behind Hideo Kojima launching his independent studio Kojima Productions and the development of Death Stranding. Connecting Worlds is ava??ilable to stream now on Disney+, Hulu, and Hotstar depending on region.

If you are in the United States, Connecting Worlds is available to stream on Hulu. For most of the world, however, it can be streamed on Disney+. In South Africa and the Philippines, you will need Hotstar to stream the documentary. Here are all the regions in which you can watch Death Stranding: Connecting Worlds:

• Disney+: Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Balkans EU (Bulgaria, Croatia, Solvenia), Non-EU (Albania, Boasnia/Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia), UK, Ireland, Gibraltar
• Hulu: United States
• Hotstar: South Africa, Philippines

At the time of this post, the documentary has a 8.3/10 rating on IMDB with a feat??ured review calling the documentary "Very much a Kojima tribute piece". Did we really expect anything different?

According to the promotional images for Connecting Worlds, the one-hour-long documentary features "A visionary journey into the creation of Death Stranding."

I've always been a fan of behind-the-scenes-style game-dev documentaries. It's always fun to see the truly creative process of game development first-han??d. Based on the trailer it looks like ??a bit of Kojima praising mixed with some actual behind-the-scenes, so maybe I'll give it a whirl.

Think Geoff Keighley will make an appearance?

Death Stranding: Connecting Worlds is available to stream now on Disney+, Hulu, ?and Hotstar depending on region.

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PlayStation's previous State of Play featured an...interesting?? trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. However, the headline coming out of the event was Kojima's announcement of a return to ?the genre he arguably created:?? action espionage.

Not much is known about the upcoming Physint at this point. Kojima refers to it in?? the State of Play as the culmination of hi??s 40-year gaming career. Obviously, longtime fans of Metal Gear Solid are eager to learn more.

Kojima has now offered further deta??ils on the upcoming game, including the myster??y illness that motivated him.

Hideo Kojima was inspired to make Physint after a deadly illness

During a HideoTube presentation on the Kojima Productions YouTube channel, Kojima revealed that while he had ?been asked about making a new action-espionag?e game for years, it wasn't until he had a near-death experience that he decided to return to the genre.

"I fell ill in 2020," he explains. "It was also during the pandemic, so I was sick and isolated during all of it. I even had surgery. And I thought 'I can't?? anymore.' I was at my lowest and felt like I couldn't go back to making games. I wrote a will, too."

Kojima's illness had previously gone unreported, so it's not entirely clear what happened. Thankfully, though, he bounced back an?d came back with the decision that making a new Metal Gear successor wouldn't be a bad idea.

"In that moment, I realized that people die. But I turn?ed 60 last year. I'll turn 70 in ten years. I hope to never retire. Having said that, if the users desire it so much, I th?ought I should change my priorities a bit. I still want to do new things, but I decided to make an action-espionage game."

Kojima doesn't reveal any truly juicy details about Physint during the show but does affirm it will be a game, though he also says, "If your mother walks in and sees you playing this game, she'll think you're watching a mo??vie."

Kojima's next project appears to be Death Stranding 2: On the Beac?h, which currently has a 2025 release window. Kojima Productions is also working on OD for Xbox Game Studios alongside director Jordan Peele. Neither OD nor Physint have release dates as of ??this writing.

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If you're planning to dive into the world of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, don't expect Cliff to be with you. According to creator and game director Hideo Kojima, Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) will not be returning for the 2025 sequel.

For those who need a quick reminder, Mads Mikkelsen played Captain Cliff Unger, the secondary antagonist, in the original Death Stranding, released in 2019. Throughout the game, Cliff would bring Sam into his war-themed Beach and attack him with BTs. Mads' performance as the militant entity brought him critical acclaim, leading to several awards, including Best Performance at The Game Awards that year.

Why isn't Mads Mikkelsen in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach?

Despite the overwhelming praise for Mads' role in Death Stranding, Kojima explained both he and Mads? believe that Cliff's story was told the best way possible and want to close that chapter on the character.

While I was a fan of Cliff in the original, I wholeheartedly agree that the character shouldn't come back. It feels wrong when any form of entertainment brings well-off characters back for nostalgia or shock value. I'm looking at you, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League with your Arkham Batman.

Regardless, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach looks like a wild ride. Its latest trailer at the recent State of Play was...interesting. Troy Baker's Higgs is alive and looking like Gene Simmons and The Joker had a baby, and we now have a sentient puppet moving at 10 fps. Oh, and Mad Max director George Miller is here. I'm sure it'll all make sense when the game releases in 2025, but it's still crazy to think it could get weirde??r.

For fans of Cliff, don't lose hope just yet. We may see the character done in live-action from the A24 adaptation of Kojima's 'Strand' genre game. I wouldn't put it past Kojima to cast ev??eryone, even Mads, as their characters again. All we can do is ??wait and see.

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In a blink or you'll miss it moment at the end of the January 2024 ??PlayStation State of Play stream, Hideo Kojima confirmed that he was working on a new "stealth espionage" game, due after Death Stranding 2. I know!

All the Physint details we can muster

Sony isolated the announcement with the brief view below from their YouTube channel, and most of it just involves talking about the reveal.

We did get a bit of PR that we can glean some additional information from, even though it's slim pickings. Kojima Productions has announced that the project will be "in partnership" with Sony Interactive Entertainment, and that "preparations are underway" for its development, which will "begin in earnest after Death Stranding 2."

Curiously, Kojima specifically notes that he has been collaborating with Sony for some time (dating back to the Metal Gear Solid/PS1 era) and that Sony "also produce[s] ??music and films, and this will definitely be a strong collaboration." Kojima boasts that this project will use "cutting-edge technology" and will sport a "stellar cast." He mentio?ns that this title will be the "culmination of his work" (nothing to read into from that phrase!), and calls it "an interactive game, but...also a movie at the same time."

The video then zooms out to show an aerial view of Columbia Pictures studios, with the Physint logo emblazoned on the marquee sign. Sony seems to be sinking a lot of cash into this production, which is insane given that Death Stranding 2 already looks like a marvel based on an early trailer. Expect lots of Hollywood shine, from audi??o to video quality.

Is Kojima just going to make a Konami-free Metal Gear Solid?

So with ?all of the major motion picture hubbub and the Columbia Pict??ures tease, it's obvious that Kojima will continue to hire Hollywood actors for this next project. The real question is: Does he just convince Kurt Russel to finally come aboard and make the true-to-life inspiration for Solid Snake?

We likely won't hear more about this project until after Death Stranding ships (in 2025!), but for now, Kojima is up to his o?ld tricks, building hype.

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After hoping for a release toward the end of 2023, we now know when the Death Stranding Director's Cut will be lan?ding on iOS and Mac devices. 505 Games, the team handling the port, has confirmed the title will be delivered next week.

The release will make the definitive?? version of Hideo Kojima's 2019 hit available to a substantial new audience. ?It's playable for everyone with an iPhone 15 Pro or iPads and Macs with the M-series chip. It will be available for download via the Apple App Store on January 30.

The Director's Cut was initially released for PlayStation 5 in September 2021. It was then followed with a PC iteration in Mar??ch 2022. Within it comes the base game, as well as a new underground factory location, expanded story missions, and various delivery assists to make navigating terrain a bit easier.

505 Games is publishing the port. The Death Stranding Director's Cut is being listed on the App Store for $39.99. However, those who preorder ahead of the January 30 launch can enjoy a nice 50% discount on their purchase. It's the first of potentially many future titles that Kojima has committed to?? bring to Apple's platforms.

Players who own multiple newer Apple products should be aware that the game incorporates Apple's Special Delivery feature. This enables those with Mac and iOS devices to purchase the Director's Cut once and have it playable across all platforms. Just be sure to have space available, as the Death Stranding Director's Cut on iOS and Mac comes in at a sizeable 69.8 GB.

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Following his departure from Konami, Hideo Kojima launched an independent career. It seems to have been a smart choice though, a?s he recently revealed, it was??n't easy to convince others that it was possible.

According to his recent Tweet, h?is peers, colleagues, and relatives expressed doubts concerning his plan to go independent. It appears that it wasn't that they had no faith in his abilities. Instead, it was because they ??held the belief that it "was impossible without the financial and organizational strength of a company." Despite this, Kojima proved that it is "an old-fashioned way of thinking."

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It should be noted that Kojima wasn't facing unanimous discouragement, and there were a few who believed in his ideas. As he explained in a 2019 interview with Time Magazine, following his departure from Konami, he felt alone. However, these feelings were dispelled when he realized he had built relationships with other creatives like Guillermo Del Toro and F. Paul Wilson. Consequently, he knew that he wasn't alone. This experience would go on to influence Death Stranding.

Kojima has no plans to retire

In the same Tweet, Kojima declares, as he had in the past, that he has no plans to retire because for him "creating is living." This year, he had expressed this idea on his birthday which falls on August 24. In his Tweet, he declares: there is no retirement age or retirement in my way? of life."

He is certainly proving his claims, as he has a game called OD on the way. It is being made with Jordan Peele, and while not much is known about the project at present, the official announcement on the Kojima Productions site reveal??s that Xbox's cloud gaming technology is being leveraged to create not just a new game, but rather "a new form of media."

It's quite fortunate for his fans that Ko??jima has no retirement plans, as it means we?'ll be getting more eccentric experiences for a while.

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Hideo Kojima's work is heading to the silver screen. Announced today, A24 is bringing Kojima Production's Death Stranding into live-action. The film is said to delve ??into the blurring between life and death, the titular “Death Stranding� that brought horrific monsters into an ever-collapsing world.

The announcement comes days before the game's eighth anniversary. Speaking about the adaptation on his website, Kojima said:

"A24 was born into this world about 10 years ago, their presence is singular within the industry, they are like no other. The films they are delivering to the world are high in quality and very inno??vative. I have been attracted to their creations and they have even inspired my own work. Their innovative approach to storytelling aligns with what Kojima Productions has been doing for the last 8 years.

"Now, we are making a Death Stranding movie together," Kojima stated. "There are a lot of 'game adaptation films' out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game. The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema. We are creating a Death Stranding ????universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born."

No word yet on who will take the director's chair or other roles? on the live-action ?adaptation.

Building Bridges

For those who don't know, 2019's Death Stranding is about Sam Porter Bridges, who delivers packages all around the broken United States. It's weird, twisted, and definitely the most memorable title of the last decade. The game bolstered an impressive celebrity cast, with the likes of Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), LĂ©a Seydoux (Spectre), Mads Mikkelsen (Doctor Strange), and Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). It's unknown if any of the star-studded cast will reprise their roles for the live-action fil??m.

This is big news for Kojima fans. The creator of Metal Gear is a gigantic cinephile, if his Twitter is anything to go by. This isn't his first film, as he had a documentary, titled Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. It's also expected to be released on Disney+ early next year. Kojima, in gaming, just revealed his newest (and weirdest) project, OD, at this year's Game Awards. Last year, he announced a sequel to Death Stranding, which looks to continue the abstra??ct horror the original had.

A24, the company behind the production, is one of Hollywood's biggest up-and-comers. Last year, the studio released Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, which took home seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Other films they have made include Moonlight, Ex Machina, Hereditary, and Midsommar.

As one of my favorite studios in the game, it's weird seeing them take on a big project like this. However, it does fit with their abstract aesthetic and flair for the unique.?? To be honest, I think that, on paper, it's a definite match. However, it remains to be seen if it'll translate into live-action. I'll see you all on the beach.

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Hideo Kojima made an appearance at The Game Awards 2023 to show off a trailer for OD, his next project. Maybe? I’m really not sure what ??to make of this trailer.

Hungry purple dinosaur? There are peo??ple talking to a camera and getting scared. It’s being made with Xbox Game Studios.

Okay, he then explains things. It’s groundbreaking and challenging. Uses cloud gaming technology. Immersive and something no one has seen before. It is a game, but also a movie, and also a new form of media. Jordan Peele is here. Maybe he’ll clear up what OD is. Nope, he’s just talking ?about how great Hideo Kojima is.

Okay, there you have it, everyone! Lots to look forward to. It’s shaping up great. Wo??w.

OD is maybe coming out eventually,? probably for Xbox and PC.

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There aren't many video game developers who are as popular as Hideo Kojima. He left an indelible mark on the gaming world through the Metal Gear franchise, then managed to reboot his career following his departure from Konami. A new studio, Kojima Productions, was formed, and its first game, Death Stranding, wa??s released in 2019. The studio's mascot is Lud?ens, and he wears a spacesuit, making him look ready for any adventure.

Recently, a fan took inspiration from Ludens and created? a handmade ring for Kojima. The ring, which Kojima showed off on Twitter, features the Ludens helmet, and the words "60th anniversary" are engraved, likely a reference to Kojima turning 60 this year. The eccentric game creator expressed great gratitude for the beautiful ring.

The significance of Kojima Productions' Ludens mascot

Ludens is the Latin word for play, and it beautifully captures Kojima's driving philosophy. The mascot's name is a reference to the 1938 text by Johan Huizinga titled Homo Ludens. The text theorizes that it would be? more accurate to characterize humans as a species of play, as play and imaginatio?n form integral parts of human societies and culture.

The concept weaves its way into Death Stranding, as seen with the Ludens sunglasses players receive early on. It features the following relevant description: "Sunglasses designed with 'Homo ludens' i?n mind, their form encourages the wearer to never forget their playful side".

Despite turning 60, Kojima has certainly not forgotten his playful side, as he recently posted a picture of himself holding a Concorde Lego set. He's also shown his love for Starfield, suggesting he's been quite star-bound lately.

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Many of us horror fans are giddy about the fact that Silent Hill is making a comeback. However, the loss of P.T. (the SH project that was being developed by Hideo Kojima and Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro) will always be a sore point. Not just ??for fans, either, as even those involved still feel the pain.

Recently, people on Twitter have acknowledged the nine years that have elapsed since P.T. was released. Many have been reminiscing ab??out what could have been before the game was canceled in 2015. One such person is del Toro himself, who reached out to Konami, seemingly in a bid to see if the studio is interested in reviving the dead project.

//twitter.com/RealGDT/status/1690528967802167296

There's not much that's been said by the director other than asking Konami, "What sayeth thou?" This was followed by the phrase "Irrumabo Konamitus" which, when translated from Latin to Engli??sh, says "I will visit K?onami."

Don't let your P.T.s be dreams

It sounds like del Toro is very much interested in reviving P.T.

Given that Silent Hill is making a triumphant return, hopes will remain that Kojima's take on the series will one day count itself among the many other upcoming SH games. It's hard to say. Konami pretty much turned its back on the franchise (and on Hideo Kojima) several years ago. Whether the stu??dio will ever return to this one particular project cannot be said.

It's also hard to imagine it's been nearly ten years since P.T. dropped on PS4 with nary a word. Its photorealistic visuals, Kojima-esque puzzles, and terrifying atmosphere made it stand out. The fact that it was eventually revealed to be a teaser for the now-defunct Silent Hills was even more thrilling.

Such a shame it never came to be. Pe??rhaps del Toro's words will open up a new dialogue of possibilities. Ah, to dream.

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Sons of the Patriots finally headed to multiplatform

Ahead of the release of classic compilation Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol1, Konami updated its website with a timeline of the featured games �However, dataminers gon' datamine, an?d folks prodded around the website might have unearthed the contents of a yet to be announced Volume 2.

According to the uncovered data, the Metal Gear Solid timeline pages features placeholder buttons for a selection of latter-day Metal Gear titles, namely 2008's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, 2010 PlayStation Portable release Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and 2015's magnum opus, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which w?ould be the final title in the series to be helmed by creator Hideo Kojima.

//twitter.com/Nitroi??d/status/1671647361783721985?s=20

Should these titles prove to be the lineup for Master Collection Vol.2, then this will be the very first time that Metal Gear Solid 4 has been made available on a platform outside of the PS3. Seeing this release, as well as the other titles, on Xbox, PC, and other platforms will certainly be a moment in MGS history, so here's hoping that this datami???ne proves to be accurate.

Back in the world of Actually Confirmed releases, fans are looking forward to Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1, which comprises Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, along with the original Metal Gear and Snake's Revenge, and a selection of rad additional content. It wil??l launch October 24 on PS5, PC, Xbox S??eries X, and Nintendo Switch.

Metal Gear Solid 4 finally? freed from PS3 as part of leaked Master Collection Vol. 2 [IGN]

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What accomplishment doesn't he want to achieve?

Being one of the most recognizable faces in all of game development, Hideo Kojima is known for his outlandish ideas. While he rose to fame with the Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid franchises, his legacy continued with 2019's Death Stranding, a game synonymous with surrealism.

Now, the man himself has shown an interest in literally reaching for the ??stars. In a recent YouTube video, Hideo Kojima was asked by Geoff Keighley about achievements he still has in mind as he approaches 60. Speaking through an interpreter, the director said that he wants to go into outer space. The comment inspires some laughter from the audience. Kojima then goes on to say that he wants to make a game in space that the player can play while also floating about in the ?cosmos.

To hear the quote, skip ahead to around 23:19.

//youtu.be/fAAbAAqHEic?t=1299

Anybody who knows the man and his work can say for certain that this is probably not a surprising dream. If you're a fan of his games, you may describe him as a "visionary." He's not always appreciated, but he definitely leaves an impact. Of course, seeing as Hideo Kojima likes to tease, it's en?tirely possible that this comment about going into space is a bit of a?? joke on his part.

Still, it's interesting to imagine what a game in space would? be like, and if anyone's going to do it, it may as well be Kojima. However, we seem to be some way off before we regular folk can take trips to the stars. A video game that's been developed and is playable off-planet sounds kooky in a way that a lot of Kojima's ideas sound kooky. But, at the risk of bursting any bubbles, the prospect of such a game would probably be only suitable for the ultrarich. So Bezos could play it, but not you and I.

Besides, Kojima still needs to finish Death Stranding 2, not to mention that Xbox game he's said to be working on.

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Series creator will not be a part of remake production

Konami has confirmed that Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima will not be involved with the development of upcoming remake Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater �The publisher clarified the situation in a recent interview with IGN, confirming what many fans had already assumed.

"They are not involved," a Konami spokesperson noted. "However, the development team will work hard to create this remake and also the ports (for Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection) so that they c?an be enjoyed on multiple platforms by even more players all around the world."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YDauj2Ayog

Metal Gear Solid Delta, a full remake of the acclaimed 2004 sequel Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, will be handled by Konami's own in-house developers, led by Singapore-based studio Virtuos Games �which has worked on franchises including Uncharted, Call of Duty, Horizon, and Dark Souls. Konami is confident that the team can produce a Metal Gear Solid title with the authenticity of quality expected by the fanbase. Konami notes that players can expect ??a "faithful remake" of the fan-favorite PS2 release.

Despite creating the series back in 1987, Hideo Kojima effectively cut ties with the Metal Gear series upon departing Konami in 2015. Kojima's Studio, Kojima Productions, is currently hard at work on the sequel to its 2019 post-apocalyptic adventure, Death Stranding.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is currently in devel?opment for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Devs On Whether Kojim?a Is Involved [IGN]

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Livin' in a Box

Metal Gear fans went into overdrive during Wednesday's PlayStation showcase, when it was revealed that not only was the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake a very real thing, but also that they'd be receiving a new opportunity to buy the old Metal Gear games for the 200th time via the all-new, all-old, Master Collection.

While the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 announcement included Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, some mystery titles were also teased. However, thanks to a new listing on PlayStation Store itself, we now know that these titles are Hideo Kojima's original MSX classics Metal Gear and Metal Gear II: Solid Snake.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YDauj2Ayog??&ab_channel=Konami

The set promises "classic versions" of all included titles, complete with additions such as the MGS: VR Missions/Special Missions, and the HD editions of MGS 2 and MGS 3. The listing also notes that some small edits will, unfortunately, be made or copyrighted content. This likely refers to some of the stock footage used in cutscenes throughout the Metal Gear Solid series. "Regional versions" of each game will also be available as alternate downloads �suggesting the addition of localized vo?ice tracks and text.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 will launch this fall on the "lastest platforms". Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is c??urrently in development for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X??.

Grab yo' cardboard box.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Co??llection Vol. 1 also includes Metal Gear 1 and 2 [Eurogamer]

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A deserved eulogy to the members of the Cobra Unit

One fair criticism we can throw at Metal Gear Solid 3 is that most of its bosses went fr??om being characters to just obstacles, but one thing we just can't say is that those obstacles weren't fun to destroy.

MGS3 features some of the most inventive and fun boss battles in the history of gaming, and it's ?high time that we pay our respects to these dea?dly and dramatic foes.

[caption id="attachment_27169" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Ocelot (before becoming The Revolver)

The first boss battle is by far the least interesting in the game. Ocelot a??nd his unit don't do anything special and don't put up all that much of a fight, so j??ust shoot them and don't get hit, we guess. Jeez, that guy really was nothing before he started using a revolver.

One thing making Metal Gear Solid 3 boss battles stand apart from boss battles from other games is how Kojima usually leaves a secret easter egg that will totally devastate the boss. Sorry to disappoint you once again, but there's not much of that he??re, either. It's possible to shoot bee hives so that they sting Ocelot a little.

Maybe Kojima intentionally designed this boss so he could sabotage future lists attempting to celebrate the genius of MGS3's boss battles. Nice try.

The Pain

We all know The Pain for his ability to control bees, but he's also able to conjure up machine guns in his hands out of nowhere, something many would probably a??rgue makes for a better ability. Still, ??he's hellbent on defeating Snake by sending swarms of bees at him.

Luckily for Snake, these aren't special bees, and our man is totally equipped with bug repellent, so this one won't prove too hard. Shoot the bees that The Pain call??ously uses as body armor, then shoot him. Easy.

The Fear

The Fear is a master hunter whose special ability is, well, hav??ing slightly longer arms than a regular ??human. We kid. He can climb trees and he also has slightly better senses that a regular bedroom-based gamer. We can go up against him as we'd go against a regular boss, but there are way more fun ways to go about it.

Kojima allows players to poison The Fear by feeding him bad food?, but there's a twist here that not even Kojima could have predicted...

MGS3's best easter egg is one not even Kojima intended. One of the ways to defeat The Fear is by stunning him via gre??nade, but that should just allow players to get a free shot at him afterward. Players, however, can use his stasis to light up a torch and slow??ly burn his ass until his HP gets down to zero.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8PybsQ8v-o

The End

The End proves the ultimate endurance test in the history of the series. Hideo Kojima really wanted players to display the resilience required to win a sniper battle, so this encounter forces players to search patiently for their enemy. Sounds easy enough, too bad we're talking about the guy who essentially invented sniping �someone so gifted at his job that even his skin exhibits natural camouflage abilities. Fun fact, Kojima originally wanted this battle to take up to two weeks to finish.

Conversely, The End can also be the fastest boss battle in the entire series. Play?ers have the opportunity to snipe him in the head before the battle even starts, or sneakily have him "die of old age" by moving the console's clock forward by ten days.

The Fury

The Fury is an astronaut who went mad in space and yet still manag?ed to convince someone he should own?? a flamethrower. Visually, the fight against The Fury marks one of the highest points of the acclaimed sequel �With flames that burn so bright and beautifully that the poor old PS2 hardware had a hard time keeping up. Mechanically, however, we don't have much to say of note about this one.

The Sorrow

The Sorrow offers players perhaps the most off-beat boss in the history of the ser?ies. Instead o?f fighting a physical foe, players will be facing their own choices throughout the game. The fight consists in walking on a river and having to dodge a ghost representing each of the soldiers Snake had killed up until that point in the game. A fascinating and very unique idea.

It's not a mechanically challenging boss, more of a morally challenging one. Oh, and it'll also challenge the patience of players who kill every enemy in sight because man, that will take a whil?e.

Colonel Volgin

Volgin is the true villain of the game, a madman with the power to control lightning. Players can defeat him in standa?rd armed combat, but he doesn't play fair, so why should we?

Instead, players have the ability to defeat Volgin by breaking his heart (figuratively). Volgin acts like a total monster, but he has enough love in his soul for one man: Ivan Raidenovitch, a Soviet soldier who just happens to look exactly like Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2. Players who inform the game that they're familiar with MGS lore be??fore the campaign begins will start with a Raiden mask, so equip it to freeze Volgin and prevent him from atta?cking you for a while.

Kojima gave him this weakness for fun just so players could land one free blow, but we can use this window to plant a bunch of explosives in his vicinity and blow him up for go??od. Alternatively, players can fake their death with the fake death pill. This sn??eaky move will get Volgin to turn his back on Snake, assuming that the fight is over, and allowing us to repeat the explosive strategy mentioned above.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3joaAV2AAg

Shagohod

The battle against the Shagohod �Russian for "The Walker" �provides an interesti?ng alternative to the traditional big robot fight. Unlike the previous games in the series, in which we fill the shoes of a regular person who's somehow capable of dodging missiles, most of the battle against the Shagohod puts Snake in the gunner seat of a speeding motorbike.

Despite it turning into somewhat of an on-rails experience, the game makes up for the lack of ??freedom by creating a memorable set piece. Sadly, there's no hilariously wacky way to beat this?? particular foe.

[caption id="attachment_208103" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Joy (The Boss)

The ultimate one-on-one battle. Naked Snake finally has to face off against his former mentor in order to earn the title of Big Boss. This encounter makes perfect use of all the awesome Close Quarters Combat mechanics that MGS3 introduced.

There's no intentionally fun way to beat this one, ??and chances are most players will simpl?y feel too sad at this point to even go looking for one.

//youtu.be/h3jKd6J36UY

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Filling in a cultural gap

I have a confession to make: I missed out on Metal Gear Solid. I was a lame kid who liked cartoony platformers and power-of-friendship RPGs, and Hideo Kojima's epic saga of gruff military boys in cardboard boxes did nothing for my brain. Still, I figured I understood what Metal Gear was based on pop culture osmosis - baffling lore, thou??ghtful political intrigue, and brief interludes of intense homoeroticism, all in a 3D stealth shooting package.

So imagine my surprise when I went on my very first journey with Solid Snake and didn't see any of that. See, when I start a task, I like to start it from the beginning. So when I committed to getting into Metal Gear, I went straight for entry numero uno: 1987's Metal Gear for the MSX 2.

Humble beginnings

Metal Gear is a game about a guy named Solid Snake, a rookie agent for a military organization known as FOXHOUND. I will admit, I don't know much about Solid Snake in the Metal Gear Solid games, but to the best of my understanding, he's a character in those games. To call him a "character" in Metal Gear would be a little generous. Mostly, he's a two-inch ?tall computer man who just ??loves infiltrating. He can't get enough of infiltrating! It's his favorite thing to do.

[caption id="attachment_359570" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Snake's second favorite thing to do is pick things up and take them somewhere else. He takes after Metroid's Samus Aran in this way; he's always finding an object in one place that makes it easier to navigate another place. That's great, because Snake's current mission is to infiltrate Outer Heaven, a very sinister mercenary stronghold in South Africa that's full of objects that are absolutely vital for navigation. I'm not sure how anyone actually gets any work done in Outer Heaven, given that multiple connecting rooms fill up with toxic gas for ?no reason in particular and there's only one gas mask.

Most of Metal Gear consists of finding things in one place and taking them to another place. While you're busy doing that, Outer Heaven mercenaries will try and shoot at you, so it's best to hide behind the architecturally nonsensical pillars scattered around the base. If you do get caught, it's probably best to just make a break for the next room over. Most of the time, if the bad guys can't see you, they'll fully forget you exist, which is good since Snake is terrible at shooting (it's possible that I'm terrible at shooting, but I'm going to lay the blame at Snake's feet here).

But is it any good?

I'm being snarky, obviously, but I actually think there's a lot to love in this humble little proto-Metal Gear. It's not what I expected at all, but I ended up having a very good time with it. The stealth is shockingly elegant for a game this old. I figured it would be Clunkfest 1987, but most of the time, if the bad guys caught me, it was fully my fault, ?and if I caught them, it? actually felt pretty good.

[caption id="attachment_359574" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Metal Gear has what could be described as a prototypical "stealth kill" mechanic: if you manage to get the jump on a bad guy by creeping behind them, you can pretty much stunlock them and punch them to death without alerting any of t??heir buddies. Actually, you can do that by just walking up to their side, too, provided you aren't looking them directly in the eye.

Outer Heaven's boys are not the most attentive.

There are a handful of other ways to get around Outer Heaven �sometimes, agents will fall asleep standing up, and you can walk right past them without issue. My favorite method of conflict aversion, though, is Solid Snake's iconic cardboard box. The box is introduced with the kind of goofy reverence that suggests that the developers knew what they had on their hands. It's all alone in an empty room, it has no item description, and Snake's (spoiler alert) confidant-turned-nemesis Big Boss has ab??solutely no idea what to make of it. The first time Snake puts it on his head and disappears entirely, it's like magic.

Wit and wisdom

I also found myself really taken by Metal Gear's writing. There's not much of it, but what's there was very endearing to me. My?? favorite characters, hands down, are the captured FOXHOUND agents who spout off some of the most incredible advice of all tim??e. I know when my government-sanctioned action hero comes to break me out of prison, I'm always ready to tell them what they might be able to do if they had a parachute.

[caption id="attachment_359571" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Metal Gear also plays host to a lot of authorial instincts that I instantly recognized as a fan of Death Stranding and PT. His abil??ity to bump up against the fourth wall in ways that are simultaneously unnerving and playful is on fu?ll display here, as is his willingness to mess around with genre and medium.

The "plot," if it can be described as such, is as thin and unimpressive as most games of the era �I got through all of Metal Gear in about three hours, and two and a half of those were dedicated to finding key cards, so there wasn't a whole lot of time for narrative development. Metal Gear is aware of this fact, though. Its characters are painted in broad, archetypal strokes. Solid Snake is every single action hero. The creator of the eponymous Metal Gear is every beleaguered scientist. The Big Boss at the end is literally named Big Boss. It's?? all light genre pastiche, and it's got a low-key sense of humor that makes it very endearing.

Plus, there's this girl, who is apparently Hideo Kojima??'s daughter.

[caption id="attachment_359573" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

In the end, I'm glad I finally got around to playing Metal Gear. It's got plenty of?? ridiculously dated design decisions, including elevators that take ages to ascend, holes that open in the ground and insta-kill you with absolutely no warning (again, how do people work here?), and a boss fight with one of the worst gimmicks I've ever seen, but it was a good time.

I snagged it for a mere five dollars, and honestly, if it was a brand-new game at the same price, I think I'd still really dig it. I'm almost certainly going to chase it with all the other Metal Gear games, and I might just give Kojima's other MSX-era games a try, too. Maybe I'll finally get to see some of t??hat intense homoeroticism.

The post I played the original Metal Gear for the first time ??in 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

BB has come to

Another strand game is finally on the way. Kojima Productions officially unveiled Death Stranding 2 at The Game Awards 2022 tonight.

Studio head Hideo Kojima took to the stage tonight to introduce the project, a sequel to 2019's Death Stranding. The trailer featured several familiar faces, including Norman Reedus as Sam Bridges and Léa Seydo?ux as Fragile.

As for what's happening in the trailer? I couldn't tell you if I tried. But really, that's the appeal of Death Stranding to begin with, and Death Stranding 2 is carrying on the biz??arre, vague tra?iler tradition.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp6fSjMb0MQ

Not many more details have been revealed just yet. As is the case with a Kojima trailer, I'm sure eagle-eyed viewers will pick the video apart for hints and clues about what's going on, and what's transpired in the dystopian American future of Death Stranding leading into Death Stranding 2.

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Lea upon layer

Kojima Productions has dropped another character teaser for its unannounced new project, ahe?ad of whispers that tonight's Game Awards will offer up a full reveal of the next t?itle coming out of the esoteric developer.

Much like its previous teasers, the new image depicts the shadowed face of one of the game's cast, emblazoned with a simple question "How Come?". The mysterious image follows on from the previous reveals of actors Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon, Maleficent) and Shiloli Kutsuna (Deadpool 2). While the identity of the new face is yet to be confirmed, fans are strongly convinced that it is that of Lea Seydoux, (No Time to Die, The French Dispatch) who has previously portrayed "Fragile" in Kojima Productions' Death Stranding.

//tw??itter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1600596136632279040?s=20&t=DRErVG6METsZbv8ZMDBkqw

Does this latest teaser confirm that the new Kojima title is a Death Stranding sequel? Ehh... Hardly. I know we live in an era where people seem to recognize Characters and not Actors, but it's just as likely that, if it is indeed?? Seydoux, Hideo Kojima simply wished to work alongside her again. Either way, it probably won't be too much longer before we hear a little more about the project, as Kojima himself has been?? seen in Los Angeles, all but confirming the scampster's appearance at The Game Awards.

You can watch along with us tonight right here on Destructoid?. The Game Awards 2022 kicks off at 17:00 PST / 20:00 ET / 01:00 BST, and promises an evening of live performances, aw?ards ceremonies, and lots, and lots, and lots of advertising.

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Game Awards reveal incoming?

Kojima Productions director Hideo Kojima continues h??is mischievous ef?forts to tease fans with iconography from his studio's still-unannounced new title. Following on from the recent reveal of two of its main cast members, Kojima has now offered up a selection of mysterious symbols related to the project.

//twitte?r.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1598512751436890114?s=20&t=9x2KZB_zL0mBfq??O8zPsKuQ

Kojima tweeted out a stark black image featuring three unique logo designs, all of which look like the type of emblems one might see on a flag or a company banner. Alongside the image, Kojima wrote a simple message "Start a new journey", once again shrouding his studio's next game with intrigue and mystery �as the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator is wont to do.

While we still do not have a title for the new game, we do know that it will star Elle Fanning of The Neon Demon and Maleficent fame, as well as Shioli Kutsuna, who eagle-eyed readers might have spotted in Marvel's R-rated movie Deadpool 2. While there is no telling exactly when Kojima will play his hand and offer up more clarity on the new game, it should be noted that The Game Awards will take place next week �an annual event which Kojima has used frequen??tly as an opportunity to offer updates on his studio's work.

Ain't no time like the present. I'd be very?? surprised if we don't hear more info come December 8.

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Let's get this dude in a cardboard box

Top-tier thesp Oscar Isaac has reiterated his desire to get a Metal Gear Solid movie off of the drawing board and onto the silver screen �Speaking in an interview with ComicBook.com, the Star Wars, Ex Machina, and Annihilation star spoke of his continued ambition to mak?e this ongoing project a reality.

"We want it to happen," said Isaac in an abridged quote. "Be e??xcited. What's the script? What's the story? What's the take? [...] Hopeful ?that comes to fruition because there's so much potential for that. It's an incredible game. It's my favorite."

There have been murmurs of a big-screen adaptation of Hideo Kojima's masterpiece PlayStation title ever since its initial 1998 release. Right now, the possibility of a Solid Snake movie seems more likely than ever, with Isaac on board to star and Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer, Kong: Skull Island) penciled in to direct. With only a few names on deck, and no production schedule or release window even hin??ted at, we likely have some years to go before we hear the famous codec jingle rattling in our local IMAX the??ater.

In the meantime, you can check out Mr. Isaac's turn as Marvel's brooding avenger, Moon Knight, on the Disney+ network. In addition, his new, neo-noir graphic novel, Head Wounds: Sparrow, is available to order now from Legendary Comics.

Oscar Isaac Gives Upda??te on Metal Gear Solid Movie [ComicBook]

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You were expecting somebody else?

Kojima Productions has revealed the identity of the movie star previously teased to appear in the studio's newest mysterious project �Elle Fanning, of The Neon Demon and Maleficent fame?, will be taking her first steps into Hideo Ko??jima's strange and esoteric universe in the as-yet-unnamed release.

Admittedly, this will not come as much of a shock to anybody, as the initial teaser, which features an extreme close-up of Fanning's head with the features in shadow, was quickly identified as the young starlet, thanks to her distinct ear shape and jawline. Kojima Productions as QR codes posted at PAX Australia were found to link to a new, uncensored version of the same headshot, with some variants replacing the phrase "Who Am I?" with a new question: "Where Am I?"

Fanning will join a list of notable Tinseltown actors who have worked with Kojima Productions on its releases. Most notably, 2019's Death Stranding, which featured appearances from Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelson, Lea Seydoux, Margaret Qualley, and Lindsey Wagner, among others. There was also a role for film director Nicholas Winding Refn, who coincidentally directed Fanning in the aforementioned psych-horror film, The Neon Demon.

It is very li?kely that we will hear more about Kojima Productions' new project and the involvement of Elle Fanning at The Game Awards, which is scheduled to take place De??cember 8 at the Microsoft Arena in Los Angeles. I wouldn't start the hype engines just yet, however. Given that this is yer boy Hideo that we're talking about, there is likely to be something of a long haul ahead before the new title is even likely to be viewed in a playable state.

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Kojima is coming at you in audio form

Hideo Kojima is one of the most prolific game developers of all time, and now he's launching his very own podcast to share his expertise with the world. During the Gamescom? stream, Geoff brought in his "very good friend" Kojima, who said that while he's known for the games he makes, he was "here today to share some other news," that his "podcast program will be available exclusively on Spotify." Kojima will have various guests on the podcast from across various disciplines in the industry, so it looks like we're going to get a pretty in-depth look at the work of a wide variety of developers.

The podcast will be available with both Japanese and English audio, with simultaneous translation. Geoff Keighley will also be involved with a segment to give players up-to-date industry news. The first episode of the podcast will be available in only a few weeks, dropping officially on September 8. The podcast is officially titled Brain Structure, which seems pretty fitting for Kojima and his brand. Kojima is still working on games, by the way �??it seems that this is just a side project.

So many gamer??s admire Kojima and all of the work he's done, so I'm betting this is going to be a huge success for Spotify. I know I'll be interested in hearing more and seeing what the feel of the p??odcast is �game development podcasts and be a ton of fun, if you're interested in that kind of thing.

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It's live on August 23

A PC Death Stranding Game Pass release is imminent, as 505 Games (the publisher for the PC version) has confirmed the launch this morning. It'll actually go live on August 23 at 5PM PT, at which point it'll be available on Xbox Game Pass for PC.

Here's 505's reasoning for the Game Pass arrival:

"To provide players with greater access to Hideo Kojima’s genre-defying title, in which they’ll reconne??ct a fractured America, one step at a time."

August 23 is also right on schedule for the Gamescom: Opening Night Live ceremony, where it will likely be mentioned ??in passing as an announcement to fill time. For real though, this is another slam dunk Game Pass game. So many people are probably waiting on a deep discount, or some sort of miracle to try this oddity out, and now there's no real excuse so long as you have a PC that can run it and a Game Pass subscription (though I'm sure many of you will find a way!).

Weirdly, there will be Death Stranding Game Pass PC items, too:

• Chiral Gold / Omnireflector “Ludens Maskâ€?Sunglasses (Color Variant)
• Gold and Silver Power Skeleton
• Gold and Silver All-Terrain Skeleton
• Gold and Silver Armor Plate

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SNAAAAAAAAAKE!

Today is the 35th anniversary of one of the most influential, genre-defining, and beloved franchises in video game history, Metal Gear. That's 35 years of crawling around in military bases, dodging spotlights, hiding in the backs of trucks and under boxes, and sitting through seemingly endless codec conversations about what date it is. And it's been?? one hell of a journey, I'm sure you'll agree.

While Konami has not seen fit to do anything interesting with the license since series creator Hideo Kojima left the company, the publisher has announced that it is preparing to re-launch some of the series' M.I.A. titles, that were discontinued from sale back in November 2021. At the time, Konami noted that there were licensing issues due to the use of real-life documentary footage in certain games, that the publisher was hoping to ??renew.

In a tweet posted earlier today, Konami noted that the delisted titles woul??d be returning very soon, though it chose not to mention any of the specific games themselves by name. Is this all we will be seeing in regards to the iconic franchise's anniversary year? Quite possibly, while Konami is wont to hang on to the brand for obvious financial gain, the studio seems increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of producing new titles with Kojima being a key player in the title's development. Happy anniversary, please buy these games again. Kind of an anticlimatic a?nniversary.

Regardless, here??'s to the 35th birthday of an undeniabl?e, indelible, 100% genuine game-changer.

//tw?itter.com/metalgear_jp/status/1547023739371790336?s=20&t=gvi9sf_eB-lso8sCiJc73A

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We can see other people

Hideo Kojima, Metal ?Gear creator and all-around eccentric game-making dude, has offered further clarification on his studio's relationship with industry giants PlayStation and Xbox, following on from his recent announcement that he will be working with the latter on an as-yet-unannounced new gam??e.

Kojima made the initial announcement during Sunday's Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, where the auteur appeared in a pre-recorded video to reveal that he would be working with Xbox to make a challenging, "never-before-seen"?? title that will be at th??e cutting-edge of Xbox technology.

"It's a completely new game that no one has ever experienced or seen before," not??ed Kojima in the video. "I've waited ver??y long for the day when I could finally start to create it."

And that was that. Except it wasn't.

Because The Internet, a small cabal of PlayStation users took Kojima's comments as some kind of bizarre "betrayal" toward them, seeing his new Xbox project as a sign that he had left Sony behind to "chase the money" with some strange non-sentient idealization of a new lover. Many of these infuriated "fans" took to social media to voice their abject rage concern, with one aggrieved party going so far as to found a Change.org petition c?alling for the cancellation of the new Xbox project.

//twitter.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/153622767??8352973824?s=20&t=fhnbYKpThJufVOhugCrxdw

Following this online outburst, Kojima Productions took to Twitter yesterday in a b??id to allay fears that the studio had become an Xbox-exclusive company.

"After the announcement of our partnership with Microsoft using the cloud technology, many people have asked us about our collaboration with SIE," reads the tweet. "Please be assured that we continue to have a very good partn?ership with PlayStation as well."

"As an independent creative studio, #KojimaProductions will continue pursuing work on creations for our ?fans. We will explore various possibilities with games, movies, and music through platforms that evolve with time and technology. We look forward to ?your continued support!"

While Kojima has now clearly clarified that he will c??ontinue to work with PlayStation and Xbox (as well as any platform he or his studio chooses), it is likely that this still will not be enough for the naysayers. Y'see, for some people, it's not even just?? about Kojima Productions being Xbox-exclusive. It's simply about Kojima Productions collaborating with Xbox period. PlayStation vs. Xbox, WWE vs. AEW, Cat vs. Dog. Online tribalism in action. Come back Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, all is forgiven.

Kojima Productions' Xbox project is in development. We will no doubt hear?? more details later in 2022.

The post Hideo Kojima attempts to calm pa???????????????????????????nicky uproar over Xbox/PlayStation relationship appeared first on Destructoid.

Game-making man making game

During today's Xbox and Bethesda Game S?tudios showcase, Hideo Kojima of Kojima Productions mailed in a short video to announce that he was making a new title in collaboration with Xbox... And that's it.

I guess for many that will be more than enough news, but I can't help but admit it was pretty funny to just see Kojima basically say he was making a game, and then simply bail. No "Overdose" trailer? Nothing at all? I guess not. But, for fans of Kojima Productions, you can at least take heart that yer boy is once again back at the drawing board, preparing another undoubtedly odd tale ??????????????????????????in collaboration with the black and green brand.

We'll?? no doubt be hearing more about the game in the coming months.

The post Hideo Kojima pops his head in to say ‘Yeah, I’m making something for Xbox’ appeared first on Destructoid.