Kojima Reveals SAG Strike Affected Both OD and Physint

Hideo Kojima, the renowned game designer, shared an update on the progression of his new game “OD”. He mentioned on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that they had advanced in actor and environment scanning for the game. However, due to the SAG strike, these efforts were paused in the latter half of the year. The strike also forced them to halt casting for another project, “Physint”. Kojima remains hopeful to pick things back up next year.

The anticipation around “OD” began to build when early gameplay footage leaked online in November 2022, back when it was called “Overdose”. The official unveiling of this Xbox exclusive happened a full year later at The Game Awards. Kojima, alongside his collaborator Jordan Peele, teased the audience with a glimpse of actors like Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier. The trio was shown inside the iconic Kojima Productions 3D model-scanning machine while reciting a unique pangram.

Information about “Physint” remains scarce, with the name itself serving as a placeholder. This game is set to be a PlayStation exclusive and seems to mark Kojima’s return to the cinematic, action-packed espionage style he’s famous for, reminiscent of his legendary Metal Gear series.

Announcing “Physint” during a State of Play event in January 2024, Kojima expressed that details were still limited, yet he revealed an ambitious plan to blend advanced technology with global talent. He emphasized that despite being an interactive game, “Physint” would also embody the essence of a movie, with its compelling storyline, themes, diverse cast, and intricate sound design. His aspiration is to blur the lines that separate movies from video games with this title.

Kojima delved deeper into his vision for “Physint” in February 2024, citing a personal health scare as a catalyst for revisiting his creative origins.

Currently, the development of both “OD” and “Physint”, along with various other video game projects, faces delays due to a strike initiated in July 2024. The Screen Actors Guild led the charge after contract talks with key game studios reached an impasse. A central issue fueling the protest is the protection of actors against the unauthorized use of their performances by generative AI technologies, which risks recycling their work without adequate payment or consent.

“At the heart of this is the fair treatment of performers,” emphasized Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s executive director. He declared that whether it involves voice work, stunts, or motion capture, the artists involved deserve informed consent and just compensation for the use of their likeness, voice, or overall performance. It really is that straightforward.