Hideo Kojima Explores Creative Longevity Amidst Death Stranding 2's Development
Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, recently expressed concerns about his creative longevity while revealing that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently in the demanding "crunch time" phase of development.
Kojima's reflections, shared via a series of X/Twitter posts, began with an admission of fatigue. He described the crunch period – characterized by extended work hours and days off sacrificed – as the most physically and mentally taxing stage of game development. This candid admission is unusual for a studio head, especially given the industry's recent efforts to move away from such practices.
Kojima's tweet highlighted the numerous tasks beyond game development itself, including writing, commentary, essays, interviews, and various other non-game-related activities, adding to the pressure. While he didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2, it's the most likely project in crunch, given its 2025 release date and the typical timing of crunch towards the end of development. Kojima Productions' other projects, OD and Physint, are seemingly in earlier stages of development.
The most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally—commonly known as “crunch time.” On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, there’s an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and… https://t.co/FrXRgaS748
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) January 10, 2025
However, Kojima's contemplation of retirement doesn't appear directly linked to this particular crunch. Instead, it seems spurred by reading a Ridley Scott biography, prompting reflection on his own career at 61 years old. He questioned how much longer he can maintain his creative drive, expressing a desire to continue but acknowledging the uncertainty of how many more years he has. He cited Ridley Scott, still active at 87, as inspiration.
Despite these reflections, fans need not fear an immediate retirement. Kojima remains committed to his craft, even after nearly four decades in the industry.
Death Stranding 2's gameplay, showcased in September, maintained its characteristically bizarre style, featuring elements like a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller (director of Mad Max). A glimpse into the story was offered in January, but much remains shrouded in mystery, although Kojima has confirmed some character absences. The first Death Stranding game received a 6/10 review from IGN, praising its world-building but criticizing its gameplay.
