Uzumaki author Junji Ito has apologized for comments he made during an interview, explaining now that the offer to work on a horror game by games director and developer Hideo Kojima was more casual.
During an interview with Comic-Con@Home (34:04), Ito was asked about his cameo in Death Stranding, and if he was “involved in some video game development at the moment?”
Ito replied (by way of a translator) “So, the simple answer is no. However, I do know director Kojima, and we have been in conversation that he might have a horror-based game that he might be doing, and so he has invited me to work on that. But there’s no details on it yet.”
Director Guillermo del Toro stated that Ito was involved with the ill-fated Silent Hills project. For those unfamiliar, a demo titled P.T. (Playable Teaser) was added to the PlayStation Network in 2014.
The unsettling horror game utilized many cryptic clues to unlock the game’s true ending, revealing it was Silent Hills. The project would have been designed and directed by Kojima, in collaboration with Guillermo del Toro, and with the involvement of Norman Reedus.
However, the game was cancelled in 2015 by Konami. Soon after the situation rapidly deteriorated [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] ultimately leading to Kojima leaving Konami, and forming Kojima Productions. Their first title, Death Stranding, featured Normal Reedus and Guillermo del Toro using facial and motion-capture.
Sources claimed to Rely on Horror in mid-March that two Silent Hill games were in development. The second was a revival of Kojima’s Silent Hills. Konami would later deny this rumor.
All of the above factors, and a little bit of hope from fans, made many feel his comments were hinting at a larger project that was already underway. However, Ito now explains the offer from Kojima was far more casually made, rather than a sure thing.
“When I asked Hideo Kojima for his work in an interview for overseas, I answered lightly, but in fact, in the story of the party, “If you have the opportunity, you may ask for cooperation. There is no such thing. We apologize to Director Hideo Kojima and other people who have made us expect too much.”
Translation: Google Translate
Using an alternate translation by self-proclaimed native English speaker @eigogamejikkyo, Ito’s comments translate as: “In a past interview, I said casually that I received an offer from Mr. Kojima, but in reality, it was a remark made at a party where he said, ‘If there is an opportunity, I may ask for your help’. I apologize to Mr. Kojima and all of the fans to whom I may have given false hope.”
While if the project was under some form of NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), it is more likely that Ito’s comments were mistranslated and misinterpreted. Later Ito tweeted “Originally, it wasn’t to speak publicly, and it was even less talkative. I am sorry.” It is likely he means the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent stress quarantine orders caused Ito to misspeak.
Nonetheless, those hoping for a Kojima-directed horror game with Ito’s involvement have surely stirred interest. Kojima may find that opportunity sooner than he thinks.
