Kojima Productions’ debut title to use third-party engine

The first game from Hideo Kojima’s independent studio will be built using a third-party engine.

The Metal Gear Solid creator formed Kojima Productions following his much-publicised departure from Konami last year after the release of Metal Gear Solid V, which was based on the in-house Fox Engine – also used in the Pro Evolution Soccer series. His internal development division at the publisher was, confusingly, also called Kojima Productions.

The developer is currently working on an untitled first game, which will be a PlayStation 4 exclusive.

"I actually think it’s better to make games using internal tools," Kojima told the audience at this year’s Nordic Game Conference (via IGN).

"As for my first title, because I want to release it to the people who are waiting for it, for that title we are going to use a third-party engine – the reason I am travelling around the world is looking for such technology to use.”

Kojima has been tweeting his globetrotting adventures around the world for the past few months, visiting developers including EA DICE, Media Molecule, Quantic Dream and CryEngine maker Crytek.

Commenting on the scope of the title, in reference to the reported $80 million budget and five years taken to create Metal Gear Solid V, Kojima said that he had no plans to dial back his ambitions.

"At the beginning I was thinking to make a small title,” he recalled.

“After I met friends and acquaintances worldwide they said: ‘No, everyone’s expecting you to make a big title.’ So the first title coming from me will be a big title."

In other news, the spacesuit-clad skeleton logo for Kojima productions gained a body this week, with Kojima describing it as "very cool".

これがコジマプロダクションのアイコンである"ルーデンス(遊ぶ人)"。最先端の装備と技術、フロンティアスピリットを駆使して"新しい未来"に、"新しい遊び"を届けたいと思います。彼が着ているのは船外活動(EVA)クリエイティブ服です。 pic.twitter.com/6j9Rbsy604

— 小島秀夫 (@Kojima_Hideo) May 17, 2016