Hideo Kojima Queries His Creative Longevity Amid Death Stranding 2 Development Crunch

Hideo Kojima, the renowned creator of the Metal Gear series, recently shared his thoughts on the sustainability of his creativity amid the intense "crunch time" phase of developing Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kojima expressed feeling "tired" as he navigates what he describes as "the most demanding period of game development" both physically and mentally.

Crunch time, a term familiar to the gaming industry, refers to the period when developers work extended hours and often on days off to meet project deadlines. While many studios have pledged to minimize or eliminate crunch following recent controversies, it's noteworthy that Kojima, as a studio head, openly acknowledges its occurrence. He detailed the multifaceted nature of crunch, mentioning tasks like mixing, Japanese voice recording, and a plethora of additional responsibilities such as writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, and discussions.

Although Kojima did not explicitly mention Death Stranding 2, the game's looming 2025 release date suggests it's the likely focus of this crunch period. Other projects at Kojima Productions, such as OD and Physint, appear to be in earlier stages of development without set release windows.

Amid this grueling phase, Kojima's reflections on his career longevity were sparked not by the crunch itself, but by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, Kojima pondered, "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative.' I want to keep going for the rest of my life, but is it 10 more years? 20? Every day feels like I’m racing against the clock." He drew inspiration from Ridley Scott, who remains active at 87 and created the masterpiece Gladiator past the age of 60.

Despite nearing four decades in the video game industry, Kojima's determination to continue creating should reassure fans that retirement is not imminent. An extended gameplay reveal of Death Stranding 2 in September showcased its characteristic eccentricity, including a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. In January, an introduction to its story was shared, though its complex themes leave much to the imagination. Notably, Kojima confirmed the absence of certain characters from the sequel. IGN's review of the original Death Stranding noted, "Death Stranding delivers a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, but its gameplay struggles to support its weight," giving it a 6/10 rating.