Hideo Kojima Gets a First Look as Hideyoshi Oshima in ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ Season 2
Night City has never been shy about welcoming famous faces. Over the years, the neon-soaked world of ‘Cyberpunk 2077′ has attracted crossovers, cameos and tributes from across the gaming and anime worlds. Few visitors fit the setting as well as one of the most famous game creators alive.
That is especially true now that ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ is about to return to Netflix. The new season, a standalone story from CD Projekt RED and Studio Trigger, arrives on October 20 with all 10 episodes at once. The anime has been building momentum for weeks, and a late surprise has fans talking.
First look at Hideo Kojima as Hideyoshi Oshima in ‘CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS’ Season 2. https://t.co/eWcju7NsMm
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 19, 2026
Hideo Kojima is reprising his ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ role as Hideyoshi Oshima in ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ Season 2, and the first look at his anime counterpart is out. The new character card pairs a photo of Kojima in his trademark glasses and dark jacket with a stylized animated version of him seated at a restaurant table. The listing describes Oshima as a Japanese braindance director played by Kojima, while his birthday and blood type are marked confidential.
Oshima made his debut in ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ during ‘The Heist’, set at Konpeki Plaza. Players who explore the hotel can spot him sitting at a table at the back, talking to people about his work. He is a producer of braindance, the technology that lets people record and replay another person’s experiences, including their emotions and thoughts.
The size of his role this season remains unknown, so it could be a brief appearance or something more. CD Projekt RED co-CEO Michał Nowakowski said it was always a pleasure to work with Kojima, which suggests the studio is happy to bring him back.
The cameo fits neatly into Kojima’s long relationship with the genre. Before the ‘Metal Gear Solid’ franchise made him a household name, he wrote and designed ‘Snatcher’, a cyberpunk graphic adventure that has since been praised as one of the best of its kind. In 2020, a free ‘Death Stranding’ PC update added missions featuring characters and lore from ‘Cyberpunk 2077’.
Kojima has also become known for appearing in other people’s projects. He previously revealed on his radio show that he had been invited to appear in a big live-action movie and a major anime title. This announcement appears to confirm the anime part of that tease, and he has said he doesn’t like playing himself, which makes taking on a character like Oshima a natural fit.
The second season is not a direct continuation of David’s story. It is a standalone tale of revenge and redemption with an all-new cast of characters who cross paths in Night City. The main characters include veteran edgerunner Weak Kingsley, voiced in English by Clancy Brown, along with D, Roman Carax and Talia Yang.
Kai Ikarashi directs, making his directorial debut on the series. Bartosz Sztybor and Masahiko Otsuka return as the creative minds behind the story, with Sztybor pitching the sequel as reminiscent of 90s films like ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Léon: The Professional’. The official site promises an even more raw and brutal take on the dark future.
The expectations are high. The first season premiered on Netflix on September 13, 2022, and received critical acclaim for its writing, characters, action and animation. Its success also contributed to a reappraisal of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’, with the game seeing a significant increase in sales and players afterward.
The final trailer for ‘CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS’ Season 2 has been released. Releasing October 20 on Netflix. https://t.co/XWdNm512aH
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 14, 2026
On paper, a cameo is a small detail. But for fans of both gaming and anime, seeing Kojima step into Night City again feels like a wink that rewards the most dedicated viewers. It also shows how comfortable the series has become mixing game lore with its own stories.
What are you most excited about?
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