Hideo Kojima and his team have announced a new AR (augmented reality) experience in collaboration with an AI technology company.

Niantic Spatial, a geospatial AI technology company, spun off from Niantic after it sold its gaming division and portfolio (Pokémon GO, Monster Hunter Now, Pikmin Bloom) to Scopely. Niantic Spatial appeared to have left the gaming industry until the Beyond the Strand anniversary showcase, when John Hanke, CEO of Niantic Spatial and founder of Niantic, joined Hideo Kojima on stage to announce a collaboration on an AR Death Stranding experience similar to Pokémon GO.

Several key moments took place during the Beyond the Strand event, including the teaser for OD (full title OD: Knock), Physint presenting the game’s key art and discussing it with the cast, updates on the A24 Death Stranding film project, and the reveal of the Death Stranding Mosquito trailer, an animated adaptation currently in development.

Kojima Productions will use Niantic Spatial’s spatial AI technology to create an AR experience that works with smartphones and smart glasses, allowing users to enjoy entertainment wherever they go. Kojima illustrated it boldly: it’s like real Death Stranding in the real world, where users can interact with people and their physical surroundings. Previously, the focus was on virtual reality — now it’s about connecting with the real environment.

“This collaboration is a significant moment for both companies, as we share a vision to push the boundaries of what’s possible in interactive storytelling. For Kojima Productions, it’s a bold expansion into new forms of media beyond traditional gaming. For Niantic Spatial, it highlights the potential of geospatial AI technology to transform how people and machines understand and interact with the physical world,” the press release stated. “At Niantic Spatial, we’re building a living model of the world that people and machines can interact with, creating a new canvas for real-world storytelling. We’re excited to collaborate with Kojima Productions to explore what our combined creativity and innovation can achieve for new and existing fans,” added John Hanke, head of Niantic Spatial.

Overall, this concept sounds intriguing and fits perfectly within Kojima’s imaginative approach. Whether it will succeed as a functional game or software product that users will actually engage with and spend money on remains uncertain, as we currently have no clear idea of how this experience will materialize.

Source: WCCFTech