When Hideo Kojima said he was making a "taboo" game for his next project, you might have been fooled into thinking once again that he'd be stepping away from the Metal Gear Solid series. This may not be the case. In an interview in this week's Famitsu, Kojima reveals that his next game may actually be Metal Gear Solid 5.

Kojima discussed the full lineup of Kojima Productions games with Enterbrain (Famitsu's publisher) CEO Hirokazu Hamamura. See this story for a summary of Kojima's comments on Metal Gear Solid Rising and Castlevania Lords of Shadow, two titles Kojima isn't directly involved with. Here's a bit of what Kojima had to say about the mystery title that he's working on outside of Metal Gear Solid 3DS.

Beginning a discussion of the new Kojima project, Hamamura first relayed his personal praise about Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, with particular mention of the game's Mother Base component. "The reviews were also high overseas," remarked Kojima. "But even though we were getting good reviews, 'We're hoping for a console version,' is always written at the end." Kojima also jokingly recalled reading "Has Kojima fled to the PSP?".

Kojima turned the conversation to his next project, saying "But, the next project is amazing. The plan is pretty much solidified. Although recently, it has wavered a bit."

Apparently, during Peace Walker's development, Kojima was all set on what he'd be doing next and even got a favorable opinion from a number of insiders. However, after returning from E3, his feeling changed. Asked by Hamamura what exactly changed, Kojima said "I'm not sure myself, but I began to want to do something different from what I'd wanted to do originally."

Regardless of what he ends up doing with the next project, Kojima assured it would be for consoles.

Asked by Hamamura if the new game will be Metal Gear Solid 5, Kojima responded "For the next game I make, it's either MGS5 or an original game. I only have these two choices." He also brought up ZOE here without being asked: "Regarding Anubis and so-forth, sorry -- those will be pushed a bit into the future. I'm 47 this year, and I don't know when something might happen (laughs)."

Hamamura said that he's interested in seeing both an original game and MGS5, noting that he wants to see what's next after Peace Walker. The exchange between Kojima and Hamamura for this part of the interview went a little something like this:

Kojima: "The next thing after Peace Walker is something great. It's a revolution."

Hamamura: "A revolution!? Is this in terms of gameplay?"

Kojima: "In terms of gameplay. We'll be doing things that we couldn't do in Peace Walker."

Hamamura: "What can you do?"

Kojima: "You know, don't you? (laughs)"

Hamamura: "No no -- I don't know. What is the time period of the game?"

Kojima: "(explosive laughter)"

With Kojima himself not knowing if the new game will be MGS5 or an original title, it make seem like we're in for a long wait. But development does seem to be progressing. The game's engine is already running, revealed Kojima, and technological preparations are being made. He joked that while Rising, Castelvania and Metal Gear Solid 3DS are progressing, he's making his use of his top staff to work on the new game.

Will Hideo Kojima deliver another Metal Gear Solid for consoles? (Shown: Metal Gear Solid 4)

Remember all the talk about a "taboo" game via Kojima's Twitter? Kojima reminded Hamamura about this. "What was that about," asked Hamamura. Replied Kojima, "That's about the next game I'll be making."

Hamamura asked what "taboo" refers to. Is it a theoretical taboo, or a game industry taboo. Said Kojima, "It's different from those, but I can't say." He jokingly added, in reference to last year's series of pre-E3 Peace Walker teaser interviews, "Shall we bring out the censors?"

I have to admit here that I'm a bit confused if by "next" Kojima is referring to the console game that's currently in development or if it's his next next project. The brief passage about the "taboo" is in the middle of the interview without much context. My gut feeling is that it's actually the next next project and not the game that's more fully addressed in the interview, but I could just be reading wrong. Someone should be sure and ask during the next toilet chat session.

The interview ended with a discussion about how long Kojima will be taking to make his new project. Said Kojima, "I'll be slowly making my game on a console. However, even though I say slowly, it can't take three years. Only Japanese companies are taking time. Overseas, they don't take so much time for development. Assassin's Creed saw an announcement at E3 even though one was just released last year. With this in mind, I believe you can't take more than a little over two yeas for development."

After a joke-filled back and forth, Hamamura came to the conclusion that Kojima's next game would at worst be released in 2012, although it could make it out by the end of 2011. To this theory, Kojima would only say "Once I've started moving, I move fast."

He did provide a hint about release timing, though, stating that the various Kojima Productions titles would be released in order. Famitsu provided a handy chart listing Castlevania as definitely arriving this year, Metal Gear Solid Rising and Metal Gear Solid 3D as possibly arriving in 2011, and the new "A Hideo Kojima Game" possibly arriving in 2012.

Will this "A Hideo Kojima Game" be MGS5? Or will it be something original? And where does the taboo fit into all of this? Expect lots and lots of Twitter teasing over the next couple of years.

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/07/07/kojima_mgs5/