Now, despite the source, take what Norman Reedus says with that usual tub of salt.

Death Stranding was a very unfortunate no-show at The Game Awards on Thursday, despite Kojima being his usual teasing self. And we still don’t have a release date for the game! However, according to Norman Reedus, that might change as early as next year.

During his appearance on the Dan Fogler Podcast (which you can check out here, as well as read a transcript of the podcast), Reedus was asked about Death Stranding, and specifically, just when it was going to be released. His response? “I think it’s gonna be early this coming year, I have three more [motion capture] sessions here in New York starting next week.”

That’s not all Reedus had to say about the game. When asked just what the hell the game was about, Reedus said that, “It’s not the kinda game where you kill everybody in the room,” but rather it’s “a game of bringing people together. How you play it is you’re building bridges from here to there, and other people are doing the same, and you connect, and the character that I play is, he’s got this phobia of being touched, and as you play the game the phobia leaves you. It’s complicated but once you’re in it, it doesn’t seem as complicated. It’s constantly surprising you with decisions left and right, and what comes at you, and it’s a real brave game. It’s visually stunning, and the story behind it, it’s a whole ‘nother level, y’know. It’s not Pac-Man, it’s not simple, but the philosophy behind it is one that everybody can get.”

Again, this is all coming from Reedus, not Kojima. But, it’s certainly worth it to know that Kojima is up to his old tricks when it comes to the design and story of the game.

Death Stranding is due out for the PlayStation 4.