As promised by host Geoff Keighley ahead of the event, The Game Awards 2023 featured a lot of new game announcements (61, to be exact), with Kojima’s OD topping press coverage out of all the game showed, according to an analysis by FanCensus.
While we were expecting Hideo Kojima to present a new Death Stranding 2 trailer, the revered game designer known primarily for the Metal Gear franchise surprised everyone by unveiling its other project, which he’s making with Xbox Game Studios. As you might recall, the first rumors emerged in the first half of 2021, with insider Jeff Grubb revealing that the former Stadia exclusive would now be published by Microsoft and powered by its cloud gaming technology.
We first learned of project Overdose (which OD is clearly short form for) in June 2022 with a report from Tom Henderson. However, that report mentioned actress Margaret Qualley, but she hasn’t been mentioned in the official leading cast that will include Sophia Lillis (It, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, I Am Not Okay With This, Asteroid City), Hunter Schaffer (Euphoria, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Udo Kier (Flesh for Frankenstein, Hunters, Martha Is Dead). Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean Margaret Qualley won’t be featured in a non-leading capacity.
Anyway, Kojima’s OD is reportedly using Microsoft’s cloud gaming technology to create a ‘very unique, immersive, and totally new style of game – or rather, a new form of media’, according to the game designer. At TGA 2023, Kojima announced his collaboration with horror film director Jordan Peele and teased other acclaimed storytellers (whom he refers to as ‘The Avengers’) that will be unveiled later. There’s no release date for Kojima’s OD yet, and chances are we might have to wait a few years.
The rest of the Top 10 most covered announcements includes the God of War: Ragnarok Valhalla free roguelike DLC, Arkane Lyon’s Marvel’s Blade, Archetype’s sci-fi RPG Exodus, CAPCOM’s Monster Hunter Wilds, Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Saber Interactive’s Jurassic Park Survival, SEGA’s Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi, and lastly the Dave the Diver Dredge DLC.
It’s too bad that what was arguably the most impressive gameplay debut at TGA 2023, Light No Fire by Hello Games, isn’t featured on this list. Still, there’s a lot of interesting games to look forward to in the next few years.
