In a revelation that has sparked considerable discussion among gaming enthusiasts, it appears the master storyteller behind Metal Gear, Hideo Kojima, was once approached by the Wachowskis, the visionary creators of The Matrix films, to develop a video game based on their iconic sci-fi universe. However, this intriguing collaboration reportedly never materialized because publisher Konami decided against it.
According to a report from Time Extension, a December 1999 issue of NextGen magazine indicated that Kojima was a prime candidate to helm a Matrix game. However, Konami executive Kasumi Kitaue allegedly shut down these discussions, preferring to keep Kojima and his team focused squarely on the highly successful Metal Gear series.
Christopher Bergstresser, formerly VP of licensing at Konami Digital Entertainment, recounted his memory of the encounter to Time Extension: “The Wachowskis were immense fans of Kojima. So, at Konami HQ, Kazumi Kitaue, Kojima, Aki Saito (who continues to work with Kojima), and I received a call. The Wachowskis wished to meet with Kojima, and indeed they did!”
He continued, “They arrived with their concept artist and straightforwardly asked Kojima, ‘We truly want you to create the Matrix game. Is this something you can do?’ Aki translated this for Mr. Kitaue, who then looked at them and simply stated, ‘No.’ Despite the rejection, we still enjoyed the Japanese premiere and subsequent afterparty for The Matrix.”
Interestingly, not everyone involved shares this exact recollection. Another former Konami employee, who chose to remain anonymous, reportedly claimed that Konami had actually shown “strong interest” in the project, expressing “immense disappointment” when it ultimately didn’t move forward.
Despite this missed opportunity, The Matrix franchise did eventually receive several video game adaptations. These included Shiny Entertainment’s Enter the Matrix in 2003, followed by The Matrix: Path of Neo in 2005, and Monolith Production’s The Matrix Online in the same year. More recently, fans were treated to a stunning tech demo in 2021, The Matrix Awakens: An Unreal Engine 5 Experience, which showcased the impressive capabilities of Unreal Engine 5.
The decision didn’t hinder Kojima’s career, nor Konami’s. Following the groundbreaking Metal Gear Solid in 1998, Kojima and his team dedicated their efforts to the critically acclaimed and award-winning Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, which launched in 2001.
Today, Kojima remains incredibly active and prolific. With Death Stranding 2 now released, he is currently immersed in various new projects, including the highly anticipated horror game, OD, being developed for Xbox Game Studios. The first trailer for OD was unveiled recently, sparking widespread speculation about its potential connections to the enigmatic P.T. There are indeed striking similarities between the two projects. The mysterious OD is set to feature Sophia Lillis (from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves), Udo Kier (Hunters), and Hunter Schafer (Euphoria). The trailer offers a glimpse of Lillis’ character exploring a spooky house, lighting candles before encountering a malevolent presence.
Vikki Blake is a dedicated reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant with over 15 years of experience in the gaming industry, having worked with some of the world’s leading gaming sites and publications.