Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind theMetal Gear SolidandDeath Strandingfranchises, is memorable for his affinity for grandeur in terms of scale, plot, and character design. His team’s latest game,Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, has received praise for its high-fidelity environments and character models.
He is also known for being quirky — a feature that has translated into his games in the form ofDeath Stranding 2Prepper cameos, and more recently, a heartwarming birthday tradition. This tradition began inMetal Gear Solid Vand continued in theDeath Strandinggames, since becoming a beloved Easter egg. However, his next project,OD, presents a unique challenge that may see him break this ritual.
The Birthday Surprise Is Now A Kojima Hallmark
Kojima has made it a point to acknowledge players’ birthdays within his games. InDeath Stranding 2, for instance, it’s a mandatory request for players to input their dates of birth at the start (or whatever arbitrary dates players want to select). Then, on that day in real life, there’s a heartwarming scene waiting in the wings.
NPCs gather around the first-person camera and sing to the player, offering their well-wishes with gifts of pizza, candles, and confetti. Although this gesture might seem fickle to some, it goes a long way in creating a nice moment of emotional connection to the game. Over the years, fans ofKojima gameshave come to love this birthday tradition in its multiple iterations as it adds a touch of humanity to even the most serious narratives in a characteristic post-apocalyptic world.
However,Hideo Kojima’s next game,OD, marks a departure from his recent works. Described as a horror experience that explores “what it means to OD on fear,”ODis marketing itself as a chilling and unsettling experience. In collaboration with Xbox Game Studios and Jordan Peele, the critically acclaimed director and writer of smash-hit horror movies likeNopeandGet Out, Hideo Kojima is giving the horror genre another shot, and this decision might pose a threat to the recent birthday celebration tradition.
OD’s Horror Setting Might Make Birthday Celebrations Feel Out Of Place
GivenOD’s horror tone, the inclusion of a surprise birthday party scene might feel jarring. The game is rumored to lean on psychological horror, so it is likely going to be heavy on mood and introspective fear. With such a theme in mind, the inclusion of a warm or upbeat birthday celebration contrasts againstOD’s creepy tone.
That said,Death StrandingandDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachalone represent bizarre amalgamations of many unique genres, andODprimarily being a horror game does not mean that it is guaranteed to not have any levity or clashing tones. It wouldn’t be a ‘Kojima’ game if it led fully with horror and didn’t subvert genre expectations, even withJordan Peele having a big role inOD, but only time will tell whether the birthday tradition is upheld.
Kojima has always walked a fine line between immersion and self-awareness. His games are packed with meta-references, quirky detours, and Easter eggs, yet they rarely disrupt the emotional flow of the underlying story. Although walking this narrative line is Kojima’s specialty, the horror video game scene is less forgiving, so his creative philosophy might clash with itself.
If anyone could make a birthday message feel appropriate in a horror game, it is Hideo Kojima. Still, there is a genuine chance thatODmay be the first game from Kojima Productions in a decade to skip the birthday cake and the candles. While that might be the right call in the context of the tone, the gimmick’s absence would certainly be felt.
