Kojima Productions is collaborating with Niantic Spatial on a new AR game project, it’s been announced as part of Kojima Productions’ Beyond the Strand livestream.

Niantic Spatial is the new name for Pokémon Go creator Niantic, following its recent refocus solely around AR applications and the sale of the bulk of its gaming portfolio — Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom — to Monoply Go maker Scopely.

Now refocused around its real-world augmented reality aims, Niantic Spatial will work with Kojima Productions on a new project glimpsed in concept trailer form today.

“I can’t really speak about details yet but, if you’re climbing a mountain… there’s still entertainment there,” Kojima teased. “It’s like the real Death Stranding in the real world, and you can connect with people, or you can connect with the actual environment there in your city. Previously it was like virtual reality, but this time I’m thinking about connecting with the real environment.”

“I hope that it creates [an environment] that brings people together to play,” said Niantic Spatial boss John Hanke. “If there’s one thing need we have in our society right now, it’s something that unifies us and doesn’t pull us apart. And I think that storytelling… has always been humanity’s way of coming together. And technology can support that. It can divide it too, but with an inspiring creator it can be an important force in the world.”

There was no word on when Kojima and Niantic Spatial’s project would launch.

More to follow…

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social