Metal Gear Creator Hideo Kojima Questions How Long He Can Stay Creative as Death Stranding 2 Dev Endures Crunch

Hideo Kojima, the renowned creator behind the Metal Gear series, has recently opened up about the intense demands of game development and his reflections on creativity and longevity in his career. In a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kojima candidly shared his exhaustion during what he described as the "most demanding period of game development," commonly known as "crunch time." This period involves not only mixing and Japanese voice recording but also a myriad of other tasks such as writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work, making it incredibly challenging.

While Kojima did not specifically mention Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, it's widely speculated that this project is in its crunch phase, given its anticipated release in 2025. Other projects at Kojima Productions, such as the enigmatic OD and Physint, are believed to be in earlier stages of development without set release dates.

Interestingly, it's not the current crunch period that has prompted Kojima to contemplate his future in the industry. Instead, his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography has led him to reflect on his own career trajectory. At 61, Kojima expressed concerns about how much longer he can remain creative, drawing inspiration from Ridley Scott, who at 87 remains active and produced the masterpiece Gladiator past the age of 60. Despite these reflections, Kojima's determination to continue creating is clear, reassuring fans who have followed his nearly four-decade-long journey in video game development.

In September, an extended gameplay look at Death Stranding 2 was released, showcasing the game's characteristic eccentricity with elements like a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. Additionally, an introduction to the game's story was shared in January, though many details remain shrouded in mystery due to its complex themes. Kojima has, however, confirmed which characters will not be returning. IGN's review of the original Death Stranding gave it a 6/10, noting that while the game presents a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, its gameplay struggles to fully support the ambitious narrative.