The time may have finally come. Hideo Kojima is close to starting work on his next project, one where he already has plans for the “title, game design, story, characters, setting research, mecha that appear”, among other things.

Notice the word “mecha”.

“I’m thinking about the casting for my next title,” Kojima wrote in a Twitter update this morning. “The project plan still hasn’t reached a detailed level, but everything is advancing simultaneously in my head. Title, game design, story, characters, setting research, the mecha that appear, casting, graphic direction, sound, beginning and ending, the major story sequences. It comes together naturally in my head.”

“There’s still a mountain of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker work piled up,” Kojima wrote in a later post, “but my head is moving towards ‘Next Title Mode.’ This is not good.”

This sounds like a pretty surefire hint that Zone of the Enders 3 is next on Kojima’s list. Remember, he both promised we’d see a third game and said it was “on top of the list.”

Thanks, Andriasang.