Overdose, also known asOD, is the next project slated to come from Kojima Productions. After leaving Konami, Hideo Kojima brought his own studio to life, with its first original IP beingDeath Stranding. Since going independent, Kojima has teased two other projects beyondDeath Strandingand its upcoming sequel. One of these in-development titles isOD, a bizarre-looking horror game that promises more of Kojima’s signature strangeness.
There is very little known aboutODapart from its teaser trailer and confirmation that it is being co-written by Jordan Peele as an Xbox exclusive. Despite the project’s secrecy, one of the most exciting parts aboutODis that it marks Kojima’s return to the horror genre. While he’s mostly known for theMetal Gear Solidfranchise, his past exploration of horror withPTmade a huge impact on the industry. As a “playable teaser” for the now-canceledSilent Hillsgame Kojima was once hired to lead, that vision remains incomplete. However,ODcan doube down onPT’s approach, proving that a short story can bring far more impact than a long-winded narrative.
PT Proves That OD Can Be a Stronger Horror Experience With a Shorter Story
Of course, there are horror games that are able to pull off a longer story, but that balance is hard to achieve. Not every entry in the genre can be as unpredictable asAlan Wake 2orSilent Hill 2, andODhas the chance to showcase how less can be much more. For most players who were lucky enough to playPTbefore it got removed from the PlayStation Store, the teaser is a little over an hour long, on average, according to How Long to Beat. Compared to most games, that’s incredibly short, but that doesn’t necessarily mean this is a bad thing.
In an interview with Variety, Kojima claimed thatODwill be “a game like no other” and stated, “I can’t go into too much detail, and it’s also hard to explain, but it’s a bit risky and a new challenge for me within the realm of games.” This is compelling, but it also raises even more questions.PTwas able to make such a huge impact with so little content, and it would be thrilling to seeODtake a similar approach. There arehopes thatODwill get another update soon, and if it does, there will hopefully be insight into what length the game’s story might be.
The confirmed cast forODincludes Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier. There have also been rumors that Margaret Qualley has a role.
OD Doesn’t Want to Overstay Its Welcome
When it comes to horror, the scares can eventually begin to fade, as the formula can become predictable.Kojima is pretty well-known for surprising players, but if the story feels too drawn out, it could diminish further attempts at scaring players. A short, tight-knit story can often be the stronger approach for horror, andODhopefully chooses this route.
Also, with Kojima’s statements aboutODbeing a game that isn’t like any other, there’s a possibility that the story could be very different with each playthrough. The game’s story is one of the biggest mysteries surroundingOD, but Kojima Productions has already experimented withstrange narratives withDeath Stranding, and early looks atODhave promised something that’s potentially even stranger.
I can’t go into too much detail, and it’s also hard to explain, but it’s a bit risky and a new challenge for me within the realm of games.
Until Kojima Productions brings more news to light,ODremains one of the industry’s most secretive projects. There isn’t even a release target revealed, so there could still be a long wait ahead. SincePTwas able to generate so much excitement and fear from such simple gameplay, it will be fascinating to see ifODshares similarities or happens to be wildly different. Based on Kojima’s track record, anything seems possible.
