Kojima Questions Creativity amidst 'Death Stranding 2' Development

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 fatigue and described the intense pressure of "crunch," a period of extended work hours often criticized within the game industry. He highlighted the multifaceted demands beyond game development itself, including writing, interviews, and other non-game related tasks, calling the experience "incredibly tough." While he didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2, its 2025 release date makes it the most likely candidate for this crunch period. His other projects, OD and Physint, are seemingly in earlier development stages.

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 future creativity, however, seems less directly linked to this current crunch and more spurred by reading a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, he questions how long he can maintain his creative drive, acknowledging the time constraint. He cites Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as inspiration, noting Scott's creation of "Gladiator" past the age of 60.

Despite the challenges, Kojima assures fans he's committed to continuing his work, even after nearly four decades in the industry.

Death Stranding 2's gameplay, showcased in September, continues Kojima's signature bizarre style, featuring elements like a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller. While a story introduction was released in January, many aspects remain shrouded in mystery. Kojima has, however, confirmed which characters will not be returning. The first Death Stranding received a 6/10 review from IGN, praising its world-building but criticizing its gameplay.