Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is visiting Kojima Productions today, as testified by the pictures shared by Kojima himself on Twitter. Xbox executives Sarah Bond (Corporate VP) and Aaron Greenberg (VP of Marketing) are also in attendance, and they brought Kojima a nifty Starfield-themed backpack. They later went with many Kojima Productions members to visit the Kanda Myojin sanctuary in Akihabara, Tokyo.
Of course, the main purpose of Phil Spencer and other Microsoft executives visiting will be to check up on the Xbox project in development at the Japanese studio. After years of rumors, Kojima finally confirmed in June 2022 that he was indeed working with Xbox on an unannounced project.
At the time, the visionary designer behind Metal Gear and Death Stranding said it was a game he had always wanted to make, but Microsoft’s cloud technology would make it possible. It’ll be something never seen before. Kojima-san reiterated the point in October 2022 when he said the project could be classified as a new medium capable of ‘turning things around’ for the gaming and movie industries.
In an interview with Game Watch at TGS 2023, Phil Spencer talked a bit about the partnership with Kojima Productions. Progress is reportedly going well, though the project isn’t ready to be shown yet.
Actually, I’m planning to visit Kojima-san next week and meet him at the studio. I am very much looking forward to meeting with him and checking on the progress of the project. I think the project is going well so far. However, Mr. Kojima is an innovative game creator, and he is trying something new with this project and I think it is necessary to work on realizing that vision away from the spotlight.
Indeed, Kojima and his studio are currently working on Death Stranding 2, which may be targeting a 2024 launch. Kojima Productions isn’t very large, so it’s possible the bulk of the team will only be able to switch to the Xbox project once they’re done with the Death Stranding sequel.
