Hideo Kojima Teaming With Niantic On Multiplayer AR Game
▼ Summary
– Hideo Kojima’s studio is partnering with Niantic Spatial to use its geospatial AI technology for creating real-world experiences based on Kojima’s storytelling.
– The partnership was announced at a studio event, but no specific details about the project were revealed beyond a vague teaser video.
– Kojima described the vision as creating experiences where players can engage with entertainment in real-world locations, like climbing mountains and connecting with friends.
– The project is suggested to be an outdoor AR game that connects people with their real environment, moving beyond traditional screen-based games.
– The actual platform is unclear, with possibilities including a smartphone AR game or a long-term partnership waiting for consumer AR glasses to become available.
A groundbreaking partnership between visionary game creator Hideo Kojima and Niantic Spatial promises to merge iconic storytelling with real-world exploration. During the “Beyond The Strand” event celebrating a decade of Kojima Productions, Niantic Spatial CEO John Hanke joined Kojima on stage to announce their collaboration. The alliance aims to leverage Niantic’s advanced geospatial AI technology, transforming Kojima’s narrative-driven games into immersive experiences that unfold in our physical environment.
Details about the project remain intentionally scarce, with a teaser video offering more atmosphere than concrete information. The footage features an individual wandering through diverse landscapes, accompanied by phrases like “a new dawn” and hints of digital collectibles. Notably, the actor wears a pair of standard-looking glasses, leaving observers to wonder if this subtly points toward augmented reality hardware or is merely a stylistic choice.
Kojima provided the most substantial clues about the venture’s direction. He expressed a desire to move beyond traditional screen-based entertainment. “What John and the technology from Niantic Spatial make possible is to unleash those experiences into real-world experiences,” he stated. He elaborated on his vision, describing a future where players could climb actual mountains, finding entertainment and forming genuine connections with friends during the adventure. Speaking to IGN, he drew a parallel to his previous work, suggesting this project would be “like the real Death Stranding in the real world,” focusing on connecting people with each other and their immediate urban or natural surroundings.
The central question now revolves around the platform for this ambitious endeavor. The market currently lacks widely available consumer AR glasses in the West. While companies like Meta and Snap have future plans, their products are not yet mainstream. This reality points toward two likely scenarios for the Kojima-Niantic project.
The first possibility is an initial release as a smartphone-based AR game, similar to Niantic’s existing title, Peridot. In this case, the glasses in the trailer would hold no special significance. The second, more long-term scenario involves the partnership biding its time, developing a experience designed for a future where sophisticated AR glasses are commonplace. The absence of any mention of a specific hardware partner like Snap lends credence to either a phone-first approach or a patient, forward-looking strategy. As this collaboration develops, further announcements will undoubtedly shed light on how these two innovative forces plan to redefine interactive entertainment.
(Source: Upload VR)
