Hideo Kojima Leaves USB Stick of Ideas for Staff, a 'Will' for After His Death

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind numerous iconic video games, has recently shared some intriguing insights into his creative process and future plans, including a unique approach to ensuring his legacy continues even after he's gone. In an interview with Edge magazine, as reported by VGC, Kojima discussed how his perspective on life and work shifted dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Approaching his 60th birthday, Kojima had always felt youthful and unstoppable in his creative endeavors. However, a serious illness and an eye operation during the pandemic forced him to confront his mortality. "I fell seriously ill at that time, and also had an eye operation. Until then, I didn’t think I was old, you know? I just didn’t feel my age, and I assumed I would be able to create for as long as I live," he reflected. This brush with death led him to ponder how much time he might have left to create, estimating perhaps another decade.

Kojima has been thinking about what happens once he's gone. Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures.

This introspection prompted Kojima to not only embark on new projects but also to prepare for the future of Kojima Productions beyond his lifetime. He revealed that he has compiled a USB stick filled with his game ideas, which he handed to his personal assistant as a kind of "will." "I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will," he stated, expressing his hope that these ideas could help sustain and guide Kojima Productions after his passing. His concern is clear: "This is a fear for me: what happens to Kojima Productions after I’m gone? I don’t want them to just manage our existing IP."

In addition to these plans, Kojima has been exploring innovative game mechanics, particularly those involving the passage of time in real life. In a recent episode of his Japanese radio podcast KOJI10, he discussed several concepts. One scrapped idea from Death Stranding 2 involved the protagonist, Sam, having his beard grow over time, requiring players to shave it to keep him looking neat. "Originally in Death Stranding 2, I was going to have Sam’s beard gradually grow out over time, and the player would have to shave it. If they didn’t, Sam would end up looking unkempt," Kojima explained, noting that the idea was dropped to maintain the star appeal of Norman Reedus.

Kojima also shared three other game concepts centered around the real-time passage of time. The first is a "game of life" where the player ages from childhood to old age, with the aging process affecting gameplay mechanics such as physical abilities and strategic choices. "It starts out with the player being born, you’re a child and then gradually over time you become an adult. In the game, you fight various enemies. Like with the previous example (MGS3’s The End), if you keep playing the game, you will become a 70 or 80-year-old man. However, at this age you will be weaker, your eyesight will worsen. When you are a teenager you’ll be able to run faster but by the time you reach 60 you’ll slow down a bit," he described, humorously adding, "But no-one would buy it!"

Another concept involves creating something that matures over time, like wine or cheese, requiring long-term player engagement. The third concept is a "forgetting game," where the main character loses important information and abilities if the player takes long breaks from the game. "Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it," Kojima laughed.

Currently, Kojima Productions is juggling multiple high-profile projects. Alongside Death Stranding 2, they are working on a live-action Death Stranding film with A24, OD for Xbox Game Studios, and a video game and movie hybrid, Physint, for Sony. However, delays due to the ongoing video game actors strike have impacted the progress of OD and Physint, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further updates.

Kojima's forward-thinking approach, both in terms of his creative projects and the future of his studio, showcases his dedication to pushing boundaries and ensuring his innovative spirit lives on.