Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, recently expressed concerns about his creative longevity while revealing that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently undergoing the intense "crunch time" phase of development.
Kojima's reflections, shared via a series of X/Twitter posts, paint a picture of both exhaustion and the demanding nature of game development. He described "crunch" as the most physically and mentally taxing period, encompassing not only game development tasks but also a significant volume of additional responsibilities like writing, commentary, interviews, and other non-game related work.
While Kojima didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2, it's the most likely project experiencing crunch, given its anticipated 2025 release and the typical timing of this intense development period. His studio's 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 retirement isn't solely attributed to this current crunch. Instead, it seems spurred by reading a Ridley Scott biography, prompting reflection on his own career trajectory. At 61, he questions how long he can maintain his creative drive, expressing a desire to continue but acknowledging the uncertainty of how many more years he'll be able to dedicate to game creation. He cites Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as inspiration.
Despite these reflections, 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 the series' distinctive bizarre style, featuring elements like a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller (director of Mad Max). While story details remain somewhat enigmatic, Kojima has confirmed some character absences. The first Death Stranding received a 6/10 review from IGN, praising its world-building but criticizing gameplay.
