I’m hearing something that will relieve fans worried about one of the more unusual projects in gaming: Xbox will continue to publish OD, the upcoming horror effort from Hideo Kojima, per reporting that Eurogamer republishes from IGN. Take this with a pinch of salt — the claim is explicitly attributed to sources familiar with Microsoft's plans — but if true it means OD is among a select set of projects Xbox is allegedly keeping on its slate amid a broader strategic reset.
What Was Reported
Here’s what I can confirm that’s been reported so far:
- Xbox will continue to publish OD, per Eurogamer relaying a report from IGN citing sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans.
- OD is described as an experimental horror project from Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions. Kojima previously called it “a game and at the same time a movie and at the same time a new form of media.”
- Jordan Peele is involved with the project, but how he is involved is reported to be unclear.
- The project reportedly proved so different that even Kojima has said he doesn’t know if it’s going to work.
- The last public showing of OD was in the summer of 2025, when Kojima Productions showed new footage running on the Unreal Engine; that event is when the game acquired the subtitle Knock.
- Meanwhile, Microsoft is said to be reevaluating priorities under CEO Asha Sharma’s “reset” plan for the Xbox business. Microsoft’s public statement is that “We're not reducing our overall investment in games” and that “what's changing is where we're investing and the kinds of projects we're backing.”
- Earlier this week, Microsoft reportedly pulled funding from IO Interactive’s new online fantasy RPG, which led to what sounded like a round of layoffs at that studio; IO Interactive’s statement said the studio appeared determined to release the game but would need another publisher if that was to happen.
The Source & Credibility
Per Eurogamer — which notes the information comes from IGN citing sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans — these claims are secondhand. That phrasing matters: the core assertion that Xbox will continue to publish OD is explicitly attributed to unnamed sources in the industry rather than a direct, on-the-record confirmation from Microsoft or Kojima Productions.
I should flag the company statement that Microsoft provided about its reset plan: the company says it does not intend to cut overall investment in games but will change where and what it backs. That official line is part of the context Eurogamer includes, but it does not explicitly name OD as protected; that identification appears to come from the cited sources.
So, in short: this is plausible reporting from credible outlets, but it is still sourced through unnamed insiders. Treat it as an informed tip rather than a company confirmation.
What It Could Mean
If the claim is accurate, several things follow — again, if true:
- OD would be part of a narrow group of titles that Xbox is electing to keep funding despite the wider reprioritisation under the reset plan.
- The reported protection for OD suggests Xbox executives may have faith in the project’s creative or commercial potential, or they may see strategic value in backing an experimental property from a high-profile auteur like Hideo Kojima.
- The situation with IO Interactive — reportedly losing Xbox funding for its online fantasy RPG and then needing a new publisher — underscores that not every project is receiving the same treatment in this reset. That contrast helps explain why news that OD is “safe” stands out.
- Finally, the fact that Jordan Peele is involved and that the game was last shown running on the Unreal Engine as OD: Knock adds to the sense that this is a high-profile, but risky, experiment. The team apparently doesn’t even know whether the concept will work — which might be precisely why some publishers would shy away, and why Xbox’s continued involvement would be noteworthy.
Why This Matters
This story matters because it highlights how a major platform holder is choosing to allocate finite publishing resources while publicly pitching a steady level of investment in games. If Xbox is indeed keeping OD on the books amid a push to refocus under Asha Sharma’s reset, it suggests the company is willing to back unusual, auteur-driven experiments — even ones that creators admit may or may not work.
That contrasts with other reports of projects losing funding and studios having to seek new partners, and it raises questions about what kinds of risks platform holders are prepared to take going forward. I’ll keep digging and will update readers if I can confirm anything directly from Microsoft or Kojima Productions, but for now treat this as an intriguing, sourced rumour that’s worth watching.
