Rumors of a Hideo Kojima-helmed horror game have swirled for months, and from a variety of angles. Even within the last few days, fans have speculated that Hideo Kojima could be teaming up with Xbox for a project, and another recent report stated that Google was, at one time, working with Hideo Kojima on a horror game. However, Google has now denied that report.

The report, published by VGC, stated that Google had turned down proposals from Hideo Kojima for an episodic horror game for Stadia, with that decision said to be coming from Stadia GM Phil Harrison last year. Of course, that would be an immensely unpopular move for Stadia subscribers, considering Kojima's pedigree and Stadia's small library, which remains a key point of contention among users.

RELATED: Google Being Sued For ‘Greatly Exaggerated’ Claims About Stadia Service

However, Google has since responded to VGCs report, stating that it doesn't "have anything, nor have announced anything, with Kojima or Yu Suzuki.” Yu Suzuki also had a proposal turned down by Google, according to the report. When asked about the supposed Kojima pitch, specifically, Google stated, "We talk to partners all the time in situations that don’t result in a project or even a proposal. This is very common. Speculating that two parties that speak regularly in this industry leads to proposals or otherwise, is inaccurate."

Google responded to other reporting on the story as well, claiming that VGC's report "was inaccurate and reported hearsay as fact" in a statement issued to GamesRadar. Google Stadia has been making headlines frequently lately, following the closure of Stadia's internal studios and a new focus on making its streaming tech more accessible to publishers.

For now, the service remains active, though its future is clouded, at best. Subscribers are still able to access their library of games, but many have speculated that the service's days are numbered. Google is no stranger to shutting down underperforming products, and with Stadia seemingly missing the mark on multiple levels, it seems unlikely that the company will consider it a justifiable investment for much longer. It's still possible that Google could save Stadia, turning it into a service rivaling Microsoft's game streaming ambitions, but public perception has degraded significantly.

Some have tried to pin down what, exactly, has caused Stadia to remain in such a state of disarray, with common problems cited as mismanagement and poor messaging. In the past, Google has steadily introduced its products to consumers to build hype for new launches, but Stadia launched without a number of major features that were promised in early marketing material, messaging that seems to be to blame for many of its failures. A project with the likes of Hideo Kojima may have been just what it needed, but it seems fans will never know for sure.

MORE: Insiders Believe Google Lacked the 'Discipline' to Make Stadia a Success

Source: VGC, GamesRadar