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Legendary game designer Hideo Kojima has announced a partnership with Niantic, the studio behind Pokémon Go, for a new augmented-reality (AR) walking game. Revealed during the “Beyond the Strand” 10th-anniversary celebration for Kojima Productions, the project aims to “redefine immersive entertainment” by blending Kojima’s signature cinematic storytelling with Niantic’s real-world AR expertise.
A Real-World Death Stranding?
While details are scarce, the game will be an AR walking experience played in the real world. Kojima hinted at the direction by suggesting it will be “like the real Death Stranding in the real world”. The game will encourage players to explore and interact with their physical environment, forging connections with the world and other players.
The announcement was accompanied by a live-action teaser trailer with the tagline “move beyond the screen”. The trailer showed a man exploring various real-world locations and interacting with AR elements using a phone and AR glasses.
Collaboration with Niantic Spatial
KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS 10th Anniversary Event
“Beyond The Strand” – Breaking NewsAnnouncing a strategic partnership with Niantic Spatialhttps://t.co/fVjcbr8SsL#KojimaProductions #KJP10th #NianticSpatial #GeospatialAI pic.twitter.com/4KvVmZO0Bb
— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) September 23, 2025
The project is a collaboration with Niantic Spatial, a new division of Niantic focused on geospatial AI. Niantic Spatial brings its AI software, which can scan real-world objects and make them interactive, to the partnership. Niantic CEO John Hanke expressed hope that the game would bring people together to play, describing storytelling as a unifying force.
Kojima’s vision for the project involves transforming everyday life into art and entertainment. He sees AR as a canvas for exploring themes of connection, perception, and “invisible stories between people”.
Pushing the Boundaries of AR
The partnership combines Kojima’s cinematic narrative style and experimental design with Niantic’s experience in building large-scale, location-based AR infrastructure. This fusion is expected to push the boundaries of AR storytelling and player immersion, potentially creating a mobile gaming experience unlike any seen before.
For the broader AR industry, the project represents the continued evolution of AR. If successful, it could raise the bar for what players expect from AR, moving beyond superficial digital overlays to create worlds that feel alive.
Unanswered Questions About Niantic Collab
Despite the excitement, many questions remain unanswered. Niantic did not give out details about the game’s title, release date, and business model of the collab. Issues surrounding privacy, the extent of location tracking, and the integration of Kojima’s narrative style into a mobile AR format are yet to be addressed. The collaboration will have to navigate these challenges as it charts unexplored territory in entertainment.
