According to Jeff Grubb at GamesBeat, Xbox is in talks with Hideo Kojima in regards to publishing the next title from Kojima Productions.
Although not finalised, the deal would be a part of Microsoft’s plan to leverage Japanese talent and wrestle back some market share in that region. Grubb shared the news, which comes from a source familiar to the matter, as part of a piece detailing that, despite rampant speculation, the newly-announced Abandoned isn’t a secret Kojima project.
Because, as I explain in the story, Kojima is in talks with Xbox to publish his next game. https://t.co/h6NA675cJm
— Grubb (@JeffGrubb) April 8, 2021
It isn’t clear what form Kojima’s successor to Death Stranding will take, although hints towards a deal have been hidden in plain sight. Just as the Series S was there for the world to see, Phil Spencer recently had a Ludens action figure perched on his shelf behind him, a sly but deliberate nod to potential talks between Xbox and Kojima.
If Xbox were able to land an exclusivity deal with Kojima Productions for their sophomore title, it would be a huge boon for the platform’s often-mocked software stocks. We’re sure if a deal is done, we’d likely hear about the partnership at one of the year’s big press events.
