Hideo Kojima Doubts His Creativity Reserves and Reflects on His Age

Video game designer Hideo Kojima revealed his struggles during the intensifying “crunch time” of development on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

The Japanese developer, known for his work on the Metal Gear and Death Stranding franchises, shared his thoughts on enduring the physically and mentally demanding phase of game development while contemplating his creative longevity.

“The most demanding period of game development — both physically and mentally — commonly known as ‘crunch time,’” Kojima wrote on X. “On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, there’s an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work. It’s incredibly tough.”

While Kojima Productions has multiple projects in the pipeline, including the mysterious titles OD and Physint, Death Stranding 2 is the most likely candidate for being in an intensive production stage. Scheduled for a 2025 release, the game’s development appears to be nearing its culmination, a period notorious for extended working hours and heightened stress across the industry.

The concept of crunch time has been a controversial topic in the gaming world, with many studios pledging to reduce or eliminate the practice after high-profile controversies in recent years. 

In addition to his thoughts on crunch time, the 61-year-old Kojima used the opportunity to reflect on his creative career and future. Inspired by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography, he compared himself to the legendary filmmaker, who remains active at 87.

“At this age, I can’t help but think about how much longer I’ll be able to stay ‘creative,’” Kojima wrote. “I want to keep going for the rest of my life, but is it 10 more years? 20? Every day feels like I’m racing against the clock. Even now, at 87, Ridley Scott is still active. And back when he was past 60 — my current stage in life — he created the masterpiece Gladiator.”

Despite the introspection, Kojima reassured fans that retirement is not in his plans. After nearly four decades in the industry, he remains determined to push boundaries and innovate in game design.

As of November 2024, the Metal Gear franchise has sold 62.1 million copies worldwide, while the first part of Death Stranding has reached over 19 million players across various platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Mac, iPad, and iPhone.