The speculation regarding Xbox and Kojima Productions' collaboration have picked up significantly in the last couple of weeks, as Microsoft continues its shopping spree.Xbox has big exclusive games currently in developmentwith the likes ofFableandAvowed, and adding a new Kojima game to that library would only increase its value. Kojima Productions partnering with Xbox for a future title may seem a little far-fetched considering the prior’s relationship with Sony, but it is not impossible. As a result, fans can’t stop gushing about what such a collaboration, if at all, would yield.
Although Kojima has shown interest in making small episodic and digital-only games in the past, this could change with the rumored Xbox collaboration. Interestingly, Microsoft hasn’t shied away from funding the Xbox department in the last few years, with the recent Bethesda acquisition costing over $7.5 billion. Coincidentally, Kojima Productions have worked on some multimillion dollar projects in the past that had high production values and boasted a Hollywood cast. With Xbox’s immeasurable wealth of resources, Kojima Productions could work on its biggest and most complex project to date. If anything, Obisidian’sAvowedis a perfect example of what a collaboration of such size and scope could look like.
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The Avowed Treatment
There is not much known about Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming open-world action RPGAvowed,although the game’s initial trailer makes it seem like an ambitious and blockbuster project. Obsidian Entertainment seems like the perfect studio to develop a game of such high caliber. The studio has made some groundbreaking RPGs in the past, but its most notable release is undoubtedlyFallout: New Vegas. Unfortunately, the studio hasn’t gotten around to develop such big AAAopen-world RPGssince then solely due to limited resources. However, with Microsoft’s acquisition, it seems Obisidian has finally gotten the chance to work on a project that would reflect its full potential.
Avowed’sinitial trailer sets the stage for a fantasy open-world action RPG in the veins of Bethesda’s cult classicSkyrim. Whether it’s the game’s setting of Eora or its first-person combat,Avowed’sSkyrimcomparisonsare evident. This is interesting because Obisidian and Besthesda share many similar traits, one of which is working onFallout. With Bethesda having its open-world fantasy IP in the form ofThe Elder Scrolls, it’s no surprise that Obsidian is now working on one of its own as well, with Microsoft by its side.
Xbox Could Be the Key
Microsoft’s recent moves have been about partnering with the most successful developers and providing them the resources and creative freedom needed to work on their visionary projects. As such, aKojima and Xboxdeal could do wonders seemingly, because Hideo Kojima is one of the most prominent game developers in the world, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft decides to hand him a blank check for his future project.
With Microsoft backing Kojima, the Japanese developer and his team at Kojima Productions could work on a project that isn’t restrained by technical and financial limitations.Death Strandingset agood foundation for the Strand genre, but there were plenty of gameplay elements that felt underutilized. Sony never revealed the budget forDeath Stranding, so it might have been that the game wasn’t massively funded like Sony’s first-party titles. It has been stated that, while the game was successful, its cost and profits didn’t make Sony happy, but again, that’s not really proven. If so, with Xbox’s support, things might be different.
It’s still too early to assume whether Kojima Productions is collaborating with Xbox for its next game. However, such a deal could be exactly what Kojima Productions, as an independent studio, needs.Avowedis still quite far from its release, but withXbox attending E3this year, there is quite the possibility of the game being showcased there.
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