Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, recently shared his reflections on creativity and the demanding nature of game development, particularly the "crunch time" currently impacting Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
In a series of X/Twitter posts, Kojima expressed his fatigue, candidly describing the intense pressure of this final development stage. He highlighted the multifaceted workload beyond game development itself, encompassing writing, interviews, and various other tasks, admitting the immense physical and mental strain.
While Kojima didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2, it's the most likely project in crunch, given its anticipated 2025 release and the typical timing of this intensive phase. His other projects, OD and Physint, appear to be 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
Kojima's contemplation of his creative longevity, however, seems less directly linked to the current crunch and more inspired by reading a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, he questions how much longer he can maintain his creative drive, acknowledging the relentless pace of his career. He cites Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as an aspirational example.
Despite these reflections, Kojima's passion remains undimmed. He's committed to continuing his work, even after nearly four decades in the industry.
Death Stranding 2's gameplay, showcased in September, remains characteristically bizarre, featuring elements like a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller. While a story introduction was released in January, much remains shrouded in mystery. Kojima has, however, confirmed some character absences. The first Death Stranding game received a 6/10 rating from IGN, praising its unique world but criticizing its gameplay.
