Kojima Productions
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Japanese independent game and entertainment studio founded by Hideo Kojima, known for auteur-driven games including Death Stranding.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Kojima Productions is a Japanese independent video game development and entertainment studio founded by game designer Hideo Kojima in 2015 after his departure from Konami. The studio is based in Shinagawa, Tokyo, and operates internationally through partnerships with publishers, platform holders, technology companies, film studios, and overseas creative talent. Its identity is closely associated with Kojima's auteur approach: games are built around elaborate fictional worlds, cinematic presentation, strong character direction, unconventional mechanics, and themes involving technology, war, social connection, isolation, and the consequences of human systems. The company is also the successor in name and creative lineage to an internal Konami development group called Kojima Productions. That earlier team was established in 2005 by consolidating several Konami development operations and produced major Metal Gear projects, including Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It also contributed to the development of Konami's Fox Engine. The independent company should not be treated as the same corporate entity as the former Konami subsidiary, although the two organizations share personnel, branding heritage, and creative leadership. Kojima announced the independent studio on December 16, 2015, in partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment. The studio initially committed to developing a new PlayStation 4 franchise. It later established a close working relationship with Guerrilla Games, adopting Guerrilla's Decima engine for its first project. A small Amsterdam presence was created near Guerrilla's base, while the primary studio remained in Tokyo. The company also operated a Los Angeles division during its earlier Konami period, but that office was closed during Konami's 2015 restructuring and was not the foundation of the independent studio. The studio's debut independent title, Death Stranding, was published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4 in 2019. The game presented a fragmented United States-like setting in which a courier reconnects isolated communities after a cataclysmic event. Its emphasis on traversal, logistics, asynchronous cooperation, and rebuilding social links gave the studio a distinctive position within the premium games market. A Windows edition followed in 2020 through 505 Games, and later versions expanded the title to additional platforms. In 2021, Death Stranding: Director's Cut added new content and refinements for PlayStation 5 and subsequently reached other platforms. Kojima Productions broadened its ambitions beyond games in 2019, when it announced plans to enter film production. The company later created a Los Angeles business division for film and television activities and pursued adaptations of its intellectual properties. Projects associated with the studio include a live-action Death Stranding film with A24, an animated feature collaboration, and an anime television project. These initiatives reflect a strategy of extending Kojima Productions properties across games, cinema, animation, and television rather than treating games as isolated products. The studio's second major independent game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, was announced at The Game Awards in 2022 and formally presented with its subtitle during a 2024 Sony State of Play presentation. It was released in 2025 in collaboration with Sony. Kojima Productions has also announced OD, a horror-oriented project made with Xbox Game Studios and using Microsoft's cloud technology, with Jordan Peele involved in the creative collaboration. In addition, Physint is planned as an action-espionage project developed with Columbia Pictures and conceived as a combined film-and-game initiative. The studio has stated or been reported to be working on further Death Stranding screen adaptations. Its current business model therefore combines internally directed game development with platform partnerships, licensing, publishing relationships, and screen production.
History
Kojima Productions has two distinct but related historical identities. The original Kojima Productions was a Konami development subsidiary formed in April 2005 after the consolidation of several internal teams, including Hideo Kojima's group at Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. The arrangement allowed Kojima to concentrate more directly on creative production while the corporate structure handled administrative responsibilities. The team grew substantially during the development of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and later worked on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It also developed the Fox Engine, a technology platform used by Konami projects. Konami created Kojima Productions Los Angeles in 2013 as a secondary studio. In March 2015, Konami announced a broad restructuring that replaced its previous production arrangement with a headquarters-controlled model. The Kojima Productions name disappeared from Konami properties, and reports emerged that Kojima and senior staff would leave after the completion of Metal Gear Solid V. Konami disputed some aspects of the reporting and maintained that Kojima remained involved with the game. The dispute became highly visible in late 2015, including controversy surrounding Kojima's attendance at The Game Awards, where the Metal Gear Solid V team had been nominated. On December 16, 2015, Kojima announced a new independent studio with Sony Computer Entertainment. The new company retained the Kojima Productions name but was a separate business from Konami's former subsidiary and used a slightly different Japanese name. Kojima described his desired workplace as a relatively intimate, family-like organization rather than a rigid hierarchy. Yoji Shinkawa and Kenichiro Imaizumi were among the founding collaborators. The studio initially focused on a new PlayStation 4 title and formed a technical relationship with Guerrilla Games, using the Decima engine for development. A small Amsterdam division was established near Guerrilla's operations. At E3 2016, the studio presented Death Stranding, its first independent project. Sony published the game in November 2019 for PlayStation 4. The title combined cinematic storytelling with an unusual traversal and delivery structure, allowing players to assist one another indirectly through shared-world systems. A Windows release followed in July 2020 through 505 Games. The company also confirmed in 2019 that it intended to enter film production, later creating a Los Angeles division devoted to film and television initiatives. Kenichiro Imaizumi left the company in 2019. In April 2020, the Tokyo office temporarily closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The studio continued to diversify its partnerships. In 2022, Kojima announced a collaboration with Xbox Game Studios involving a project based on an unusual concept and Microsoft's cloud technology. The project was later identified as OD, a horror title presented with Jordan Peele at The Game Awards 2023. Separately, Kojima Productions announced a Death Stranding film project involving Hammerstone Studios and A24, while additional animated and anime adaptations were associated with other production partners. Death Stranding 2 was formally announced at The Game Awards 2022. A 2024 presentation established its full title, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and showed further gameplay and story material. The game was released in 2025 in cooperation with Sony. In the same period, Kojima announced Physint, an action-espionage project linked to Columbia Pictures and described as a project combining cinematic and interactive forms. The studio also announced or pursued animated and television adaptations of Death Stranding. In November 2024, it was reported that Kojima Productions had regained the Death Stranding intellectual property from Sony and expanded the original game's availability to Xbox, Microsoft Store for Windows, and Amazon Luna. By the end of 2024, Kojima said that the video game performers' strike had interrupted actor scanning and filming for OD and casting for Physint. The company remains active as a game developer and cross-media production studio.
- 2025
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach released
[1]The studio's second major independent game was released in collaboration with Sony.
- 2024
Physint announced
[1]Kojima Productions announced Physint, an action-espionage project associated with Columbia Pictures.
- 2023
OD revealed
[1]The studio presented OD, its horror collaboration with Xbox Game Studios, at The Game Awards.
- 2022
Death Stranding sequel announced
[1]Kojima Productions announced the sequel that became Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
- 2020
Death Stranding launched on Windows
[1]505 Games published a Windows version of Death Stranding.
- 2019
Death Stranding released
[1]Sony released the studio's debut independent title for PlayStation 4.
- 2016
Death Stranding unveiled
[1]The studio revealed its first game through a trailer at Sony's E3 presentation.
- 2015
Independent studio founded
[1]Hideo Kojima announced a new independent Kojima Productions in partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment.
- 2013
Kojima Productions Los Angeles established
[1]The Konami-era organization opened a secondary studio in Playa Vista, Los Angeles.
- 2005
Original Kojima Productions formed within Konami
[1]Konami established the original Kojima Productions as an internal development subsidiary following the consolidation of several teams.
Products and positioning
A premium, auteur-led entertainment studio emphasizing cinematic storytelling, experimental game design, distinctive world-building, and cross-media intellectual property.
Video game · 2019
Death Stranding
Kojima Productions' first independent game is a cinematic action title set in a fractured world where supernatural disruption has isolated human communities. Players control courier Sam Porter Bridges, transporting cargo, establishing routes, and reconnecting settlements. Its core design emphasizes terrain, preparation, logistics, and indirect cooperation between players, making infrastructure and assistance central to progression. Sony Interactive Entertainment published the PlayStation 4 release in 2019, while 505 Games handled the Windows edition in 2020.
Video game · 2021
Death Stranding: Director's Cut
The expanded edition of Death Stranding adds new missions, equipment, combat and training features, facilities, and presentation improvements. It was first released for PlayStation 5 and later expanded to additional platforms. The edition represents Kojima Productions' practice of revisiting an existing game with new content while preserving its central traversal and connection-focused structure.
Video game · 2025
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
The sequel continues Kojima Productions' post-apocalyptic action and adventure series with a new journey beyond the original game's central territories. It retains the franchise's emphasis on cinematic direction, unusual technology, exploration, and human connection while introducing new locations, characters, and gameplay systems. Sony Interactive Entertainment collaborated on its publication for PlayStation 5.
Video game
OD
OD is an announced horror project developed by Kojima Productions in partnership with Xbox Game Studios. The studio has described it as an unusual or previously unseen concept and has connected its development with Microsoft's cloud technology. The project was publicly presented with Jordan Peele, although detailed gameplay, release timing, and final commercial format remain limited.
Video game and film project
Physint
Physint is an announced action-espionage project associated with Columbia Pictures. Kojima Productions has presented it as a work that bridges interactive entertainment and film, with full game development planned after the studio's work on Death Stranding 2. Publicly available information does not yet establish its final title, platforms, or release date.
Controversies
2015
Kojima-Konami separation dispute
The dissolution of the Konami-era Kojima Productions and Hideo Kojima's departure became a widely reported corporate and creative dispute. Reports described restrictions on branding, staff changes, and Kojima's attendance at an awards event, while Konami disputed aspects of the reporting.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023OD reveal at The Game Awards
Global
The studio presented OD with Xbox Game Studios and Jordan Peele, positioning the project as a horror experience with an unconventional creative premise.
Outcome. Expanded public awareness of Kojima Productions' Microsoft partnership and its move into horror.
- 2016Death Stranding E3 reveal
Global
Kojima Productions used Sony's E3 presentation to introduce Death Stranding through a highly cinematic trailer centered on Norman Reedus and the project's distinctive visual and thematic identity.
Outcome. Established the studio's post-Konami identity and created global awareness for its first independent title.
Brand decisions
2024
Pursue cross-media production through PhysintStrategyBackground
Kojima Productions continued to combine game development with film-oriented production.
Action taken
The studio announced Physint in association with Columbia Pictures and described it as an action-espionage work spanning film and interactive entertainment.
Aftermath
The project reinforced the studio's positioning as a cross-media entertainment company rather than solely a game developer.
2022
Partner with Xbox Game StudiosStrategyBackground
Kojima Productions pursued a project requiring cloud infrastructure and a platform relationship outside its established Sony collaboration.
Action taken
The studio announced a partnership with Xbox Game Studios to develop an undisclosed project using Microsoft's cloud technology.
Aftermath
The project became publicly identified as OD, broadening the studio's platform partnerships.
2019
Expand into film and televisionStrategyBackground
Kojima Productions sought to extend its creative properties beyond interactive software.
Action taken
The studio announced plans for film production and subsequently developed a Los Angeles business division for screen projects.
Aftermath
The strategy led to Death Stranding adaptation projects involving A24, animation partners, and television collaborators.
2016
Adopt Guerrilla Games' Decima engineStrategyBackground
The newly independent studio needed a production technology base for its first large-scale game.
Action taken
Kojima Productions established a technical relationship with Guerrilla Games and used the Decima engine for Death Stranding.
Aftermath
The partnership supported the visual and open-world development of Death Stranding and strengthened ties between the two studios.
2015
Establish an independent studio with SonyStrategyBackground
After leaving Konami, Hideo Kojima sought a smaller independent organization capable of pursuing a new intellectual property.
Action taken
Kojima formed a new Kojima Productions and entered a development and publishing partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment.
Aftermath
The arrangement provided the studio with a platform launch partner for Death Stranding while preserving its creative independence.
Sources2 sources
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