Hideo Kojima, the renowned game designer behind titles like Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, has recently shared intriguing insights into his creative process and future plans, including a unique approach to ensuring the legacy of Kojima Productions. In an interview with Edge magazine, as reported by VGC, Kojima discussed how his perspective on life and work shifted during the global health crisis.
Kojima's brush with mortality came when he fell seriously ill and underwent an eye operation during the pandemic. This experience, coupled with turning 60, prompted him to reflect deeply on his remaining years in the industry. "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 remarked. However, his illness forced him to confront the reality of his mortality, leading him to question how much time he had left to create games and films.
Kojima has been thinking about what happens once he's gone. Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures.
In response to these reflections, Kojima took proactive steps to safeguard the future of Kojima Productions. He prepared a USB stick filled with his game ideas, which he handed to his personal assistant as a sort of "will." "Perhaps they could continue to make things after I’m gone at Kojima Productions… 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," he explained. This gesture underscores his desire to see his studio thrive beyond his tenure.
This week, IGN highlighted Kojima's innovative approach to incorporating real-life time passage into video games. During his Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10, Kojima shared several scrapped concepts, including one from the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. Initially, he planned for the protagonist, Sam, played by Norman Reedus, to have his beard grow over time, requiring players to shave it to keep him looking neat. However, this idea was dropped to maintain Reedus's star image, though Kojima remains open to using it in future projects.
Kojima also unveiled three game concepts centered around the passage of time. The first is a life simulation where players age from childhood to old age, with gameplay mechanics evolving as the character grows older. "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," he explained. Despite his skepticism about its commercial viability, the concept received positive feedback from his podcast co-hosts.
Another proposed game involves nurturing a product like wine or cheese over time, suggesting a game that could function as a background or idle experience. Lastly, Kojima introduced the concept of a "forgetting game," where the protagonist loses memory and abilities if the player doesn't engage regularly. "Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it," he humorously suggested.
Amidst these creative explorations, Kojima and his team at Kojima Productions are juggling multiple projects. Alongside Death Stranding 2, they're collaborating with A24 on a live-action Death Stranding film, working on OD for Xbox Game Studios, and developing a video game and movie hybrid, Physint, for Sony. However, the ongoing video game actors strike has delayed OD and Physint, with no release dates announced yet.
Kojima's forward-thinking and innovative approach continues to push the boundaries of what video games can be, ensuring his legacy will endure through the continued success and evolution of Kojima Productions.
