Game designer Hideo Kojima provided an update on his in-development games, including Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, OD, and Physint. Starting with the latter two, both were impacted by the SAG-AFTRA strike for video game actors, which began in July 2024 and remains ongoing.
For OD, which is in the works alongside Microsoft and Xbox, Kojima said his teams “developed the game” and did scanning efforts for environments and the actors themselves. Scanning and filming for OD was suspended due to the strike, however. For Physint, which is being published by Sony, Kojima said casting was suspended due to the strike. “We hope to resume [in 2025],” Kojima said.
As for Death Stranding 2, Kojima said, “We started to play and build up the game.” He added that his teams conducted music production and recording, along with ADR for the actors.
Games that went into development prior to September 2023 are understood to be exempt from the strike, along ongoing with live-service games. This likely explains why OD and Physint were impacted but Death Stranding 2 was not.
OD will feature the actors Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier, with Oscar-winning director Jordan Peele contributing to the script. The cast for Physint, meanwhile, is unknown at this point. Death Stranding 2, meanwhile, features Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, Troy Baker, Elle Fanning, and other celebrities.
The strike began July 26, at 12:01 AM. It’s the first time SAG-AFTRA video game actors have gone on strike since 2016, when the work stoppage lasted for about one year.
SAG-AFTRA and game publishers like Warner Bros., Activision, Disney, and others, negotiated for about two years prior to the strike being called. The key sticking point appears to be regulation of generative AI technology.
Beyond games, Kojima said preparations and planning are underway for the Death Stranding movie and “other adaptations” of Kojima’s games. When Physint was announced, Kojima also confirmed a partnership with Sony’s Columbia Pictures, so it seems there could be a Physint film in the works as well.
Kojima attended The Game Awards in December 2024, but had no announcements to share.