Hideo Kojima: Watch the "OD" Trailer 100 Times, and You’ll Finally Understand What It Is

If you, like most players, were left completely bewildered after watching the OD trailer, Hideo Kojima’s "official solution" will sound exactly like something he would say.

In a recent interview with Nikkei Xtrend (translated via GamesRadar+), Kojima didn't directly unmask the true nature of OD. Instead, he offered a riddle-like suggestion: Watch the trailer 100 times, and you might catch a "key hint."

He was frank and very "Kojima."

"I can't say any more than this, or Phil (Spencer) will get mad," Kojima laughed. But he quickly pivoted back to the footage already released: "The clues are actually in there; you just have to look very carefully."

Not Just a Game, But a "New Medium"

In the interview, Kojima reiterated that OD is not a "game in the traditional sense." Although it is built entirely on a game engine, he prefers to describe it as a new and unprecedented form of media.

"At first glance, you might think it's just a horror game," he explained. "But the system it uses is not ordinary. It is indeed made with a game engine—a game is a game—but the system itself is something that hasn't existed before. That’s why we are working with Microsoft to try and create a brand new medium."

This explains why OD debuted at the Xbox showcase and remains one of Microsoft's most mysterious collaborative projects.

The Clue is in the "Screamers"

As for the true meaning behind the "100 viewings," Kojima didn't elaborate further, but he left a thought-provoking pointer regarding the text displayed at the very end of the trailer:

"For all players and screamers."

Kojima stated bluntly that this phrase is a "big hint" in itself. What exactly does it involve? He chose to stop there.

The "Kojima Hype" Factor

Of course, anyone familiar with Hideo Kojima knows he is never shy about raising expectations for his work. From the controversial comments regarding Quiet in Metal Gear Solid V to the grandiose, abstract descriptions of Death Stranding before its release, his "avant-garde manifestos" don't always perfectly align with the final user experience.

Yet, it is hard to deny one thing: Whenever Kojima says "this time is different," things usually veer in a strange and unique direction.

Is OD a game, an interactive movie, or a mutation between the two? Perhaps, as Kojima says, the answer is already hiding in the trailer. The only question is whether you have enough patience—and curiosity—to watch it 100 times to discover the answer.

The above content is compiled by ModeZone, a fashion and entertainment magazine.