Hideo Kojima Questions His Creativity Amid Death Stranding 2 Development Crunch

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, has sparked discussions about his ongoing creativity and the current "crunch time" phase of development for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In a series of posts on X/Twitter, the 61-year-old game designer expressed his exhaustion while navigating what he described as "the most demanding period of game development" both physically and mentally.

Crunch time, a period often criticized in the gaming industry for its intense work schedules, has been a point of contention, with many studios pledging to avoid it. Kojima's candid admission of being in this phase is notable, especially given the industry's efforts to move away from such practices. He elaborated on the multifaceted demands of this period, which include mixing, Japanese voice recording, and a host of other tasks like writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, and discussions, alongside non-game-related work.

While Kojima did not explicitly mention Death Stranding 2, the game is widely believed to be in its crunch phase, given its anticipated 2025 release date. Other projects from Kojima Productions, such as OD and Physint, are thought to be in earlier stages of development.

Interestingly, Kojima's reflections on his career longevity were not directly tied to the current crunch period but rather inspired by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. He mused about how long he can remain creative, citing Ridley Scott's continued activity at age 87 and his creation of the masterpiece Gladiator past the age of 60. Despite nearing four decades in the industry, Kojima's determination to continue creating suggests fans won't see his retirement anytime soon.

In September, an extended gameplay look at Death Stranding 2 was revealed, showcasing the game's unique elements like a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. An introduction to the game's story was shared in January, though much remains mysterious due to its complex themes. Kojima has confirmed some characters will not be returning. In our review of the first Death Stranding, IGN gave it a 6/10, noting that while the game's world was fascinating, its gameplay struggled to support its ambitious narrative.