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 in the demanding "crunch time" phase of development.
Kojima's reflections, shared via X/Twitter, touched upon both his fatigue and the intense pressures of game development's final stages. He candidly described crunch as "the most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally," citing the multitude of tasks beyond game creation, including writing, 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, seem 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 much longer he can maintain his creative drive, aiming to continue "for the rest of my life," but acknowledging the uncertainty of his creative lifespan. He cites Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as inspiration.
Despite these reflections, Kojima's fans can rest assured; he remains committed to his craft, even after nearly four decades in the industry.
Death Stranding 2's gameplay, showcased in September, maintained its signature bizarre style, featuring a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller (Mad Max director). While a story introduction was released in January, much remains undisclosed, though Kojima has confirmed some character absences. The first Death Stranding received a 6/10 review from IGN, praising its world-building but criticizing its gameplay.
