Video Games
Rumour: Kojima Partnering With Microsoft For Next Game?
Once again, it’s time for your Kojima “grain of salt” moment. According to VentureBeat, the mind behind Death Stranding may be in talks with Microsoft to land a publishing deal for his next game (which may be of the horror persuasion).
This is a two-parter, actually. The recently-announced Abandoned by Blue Box Game Studio has a very P.T.-esque feel to it, leading some to speculate that Kojima may be involved. That rumour was quickly squashed in an interview with IGN.
The studio also issued a statement, saying that the small studio has “no association with Hideo Kojima nor do we claim to have any association nor was it our intention to claim such a statement.”
This all leads into the next part, where VentureBeat sources have said that Kojima is the focus of a Microsoft plan to leverage Japanese talent. Though the article doesn’t reveal its sources, it also points to a recent interview with Xbox head Phil Spencer, where Spencer has a statue of Kojima Productions’ company icon and mascot Ludens sitting on his shelf next to the Xbox logo as a potential hint.
Perhaps this is more of an indication that Death Stranding will be coming to the Xbox One/Xbox Series, instead? We’ll see.
Death Stranding is currently out on PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
When Season 7 “Project Boneyard” arrives for The Outlast Trials on July 14, players will be greeted with the return of Prime Asset Sergeant Leland Coyle. And he’s not alone. Launching for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox, Project Boneyard will include a new Trial, two fresh MK-Challenges, major updates to Escalation and Invasion, new customization features, and a new Ex-Pop enemy stalking the Prison Farm known as The Biter.
Season 7 will see Reagents sent into Murkoff’s latest correctional nightmare in the Prison Farm. At the center of it all is Sergeant Coyle, returning in a prominent new role for the season’s new Trial, Locksock the Warden.
The American prison is a meat grinder, taking in sociopaths and criminals and extruding functioning members of society. But strict routine, severe conditioning, and close quarters create a crucible for power dynamics built on violence, contraband, and flesh.
With the new Trial, you are freedom. The indefinable promise that keeps prisoners at the grindstone that turns authority to profit and back again. Don’t let false authority stand in the way of real capital. Kill the Warden, and set yourself free.
Season 7 also brings with it two new MK-Challenges. In “Bribe the Judges”, you are the master, whose property is the purpose of the law. Salary reminds enforcement that their monopoly of violence only exists for your monopoly of capital. Collect the bribes in order to pay the judges. Meanwhile, “Cancel the Broadcast” has you sabotaging the broadcast and defiling the faithful with blood in order to be let out.
Then there’s the new Ex-Pop stalking the Prison Farm in The Biter. Having had its arms removed to prevent further self-harm, Biters are universal sadists, still capable of grievous harm with their mechanically enforced jaws. Though Biters are kept chained by the neck for safety, you should approach them with caution, as their augmented legs grant them unexpected velocity.
If that’s not enough content for you, from July 14 to August 11, Twitch users who tune in to participating The Outlast Trials Twitch streams can earn rewards through the latest Twitch Drops campaign. You can read up on the full details from the FAQ on developer The Red Barrels’ website.
Lastly, Project Boneyard also introduces a range of new features and improvements for The Outlast Trials, designed to “expand player expression, streamline preparation, and improve the overall experience” across key modes. That includes the introduction of Rig Customization, Knife Customization, Loadout Presets, and Mastery Tasks, giving players new ways to “prepare for therapy” and personalize their approach before entering the Trials. The update will also bring major reworks to both Escalation and Invasion, with significant changes designed to improve the flow, structure, and overall player experience of both modes.
More details on these features, and the full contents of Project Boneyard, will be revealed closer to launch.
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