Hideki Kamiya’s Bold Pitch: A Non-Horror Reimagining of Hideo Kojima’s Legendary P.T.

TOKYO, JAPAN — The world of video game development is buzzing following an unexpected and characteristically blunt proposal from industry icon, Hideki Kamiya. The director of the original Resident Evil 2 and creator of the Devil May Cry and Bayonetta franchises has publicly suggested that he is willing to take on a project inspired by Hideo Kojima’s legendary, now-delisted playable teaser, P.T., but with one major caveat: it wouldn’t be a horror game, because, as he states, he “hates horror.”

This surprising declaration comes more than a decade after P.T. was released and subsequently scrubbed from the PlayStation Network following the highly publicized cancellation of Silent Hills, the project it was teasing. P.T. remains a seminal, influential work in the survival horror game genre, and its unique, looping-corridor design has inspired countless indie titles, cementing its status as a modern gaming urban legend.

A Complex Relationship with Horror, Despite an Iconic Career

Kamiya’s comment, shared on social media, has naturally drawn considerable attention and some bemusement from the gaming community. The veteran director’s resume includes Resident Evil 2, a title considered a cornerstone of classic horror gaming and a commercial success for Capcom. Yet, Kamiya is steadfast in his personal aversion to the genre, a sentiment he has voiced repeatedly, even admitting he finds P.T. itself “too scary” to play alone.

“If it’s impossible to resurrect P.T., Kojima should make a new game in the same style,” Kamiya wrote (translation via IGN). He then added a challenging post-script to the revered game designer: “if Kojima doesn’t do it, maybe I’ll give it a go. I hate horror, though, so it wouldn’t be horror… plus, I have no ideas.”

This statement brilliantly encapsulates the paradoxical nature of the acclaimed director, who is now best known for his bombastic, stylish action-adventure games. For a man who created the terror of Mr. X in Raccoon City, the idea of him remaking one of the most psychologically terrifying demos in history as a non-horror experience is a fascinating, if purely hypothetical, thought experiment in game design.

The P.T. Legacy and the Quest for a Successor

Kamiya is one of many industry figures who mourn the loss of P.T. and acknowledge its profound impact. He has previously noted how the indie hit The Exit 8 has taken the cultural spot of a “P.T.-like” game, lamenting that modern audiences often forget the game that truly pioneered the looping, anomaly-spotting mechanic. He argues that the new sub-genre should rightly be termed ‘P.T.-like,’ underscoring the revolutionary nature of Kojima’s work.

• The Core Mechanic: The endless, claustrophobic L-shaped hallway became a masterclass in tension-building, a feature that could theoretically be adapted for a new puzzle game or an innovative narrative experience outside of the horror genre.
• The Challenge: Adapting the demo’s potent atmosphere into a different genre—perhaps an action game, a comedy-action piece in the style of Bayonetta, or a focused mystery-thriller—would be a monumental creative challenge.

Meanwhile, Hideo Kojima is indeed currently working on OD (Overdose), an upcoming experimental horror game in collaboration with filmmaker Jordan Peele. While OD is anticipated to scratch the itch for a new Kojima horror title, early statements indicate that it will be “something totally different” from P.T., suggesting that the stylistic gap for a spiritual successor remains open.

Hypothetical Revival: A Win for Creative Freedom?

While Kamiya’s offer is likely made in jest—given his lack of ideas—it highlights the deep desire within the industry and the high-value consumer market to see the unique format of P.T. utilized again. The idea of a PlatinumGames (Kamiya’s former studio) or a new Kamiya-led team tackling the endless hallway with the kinetic, over-the-top flair of Devil May Cry—perhaps turning the terrifying ghost “Lisa” into a stylish boss fight—is a wild, but compelling fantasy.

Key Takeaways for the Industry:

• The intense appetite for P.T.’s design principles remains extremely high.
• The accessibility and virality of short, polished interactive teasers is a proven model for generating high-CPC interest in new IP.
• Kamiya’s challenge, though lighthearted, reinforces the lasting legacy of Kojima’s work as a benchmark for innovative game development.

For now, the hallway remains a monument to a canceled project. But if Hideo Kojima decides not to revisit the concept, the world now knows that the director of Resident Evil 2 is willing to step up to the plate—as long as he doesn’t have to be scared while doing it.