It is now that the famous game developer behind iconic titles such as Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima, reaches that most intense period of game development, otherwise known as “crunch time.” Long hours and increased pressure mark this period that seems to be taking its toll on Hideo Kojima-both physically and mentally. In one tweet, he said he was tired: “Cansado,” he said, using a resigned emoji with a nighttime photo of the moon. The project at the center of this demanding period is Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2019 hit Death Stranding.
Hideo Kojima Faces Exhausted
With Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima reunites with his friend, the actor Norman Reedus; more than this, the new game promises to expand on what Kojima tried in his unique, open-world video game that bonded the elements of an action-adventure post-apocalyptic environment.
Such work with an ambitious title-from sound mixing, including recording the Japanese voiceover-is greatly in need of attentive work that comprises a host of other tasks like commentary, writing, interviewing, and discussing. Kojima described this phase as “incredibly hard,” pointing out that it involved an immense workload.
But even with such a large team at Kojima Productions-a staff of anywhere between 160 to 200 people-the sense of responsibility weighs greatly upon Kojima’s shoulders. He is deeply committed to delivering a fine game, but it’s visibly exhausting.
Photos on social media show Kojima sleeping at the office or even sleeping during game testing sessions to show just how physically exhausting game development can be. In another, he joked that while play-testing, he had fallen asleep twice during a delivery mission in the game and veered off the road, over a cliff. He confessed, “I’m a little sleepy.”
Beyond immediate challenges in game making, Hideo Kojima reflects on his long creative journey. Now 61, he thinks of how much longer he can sustain this pace. He looks up to veteran filmmaker Ridley Scott, now 87 and still directing big movies, for inspiration as he wonders about his own place in the industry years later.
He expressed a desire to continue creating for the rest of his life but acknowledges the uncertainty of how many years he has left to do so. “Every day feels like I’m racing against the clock,” Hideo shared, indicating a profound awareness of time’s passage and its impact on his work.
This is not the first time Kojima has spoken about aging and creativity being intertwined. On his 58th birthday in 2021, he spoke candidly about the frailties of an aging body, but reassured that the creative spirit was still sharp and ready to go. As a matter of fact, he promised to create as long as his brain is able to work: “Until my brain loses its creative power, I’ll continue to strive to create things. That’s my instinct, and that’s what I love to do.”
For now, Hideo Kojima’s plate is full with several high-profile projects. In addition to Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, he is currently working on a title for Microsoft and Oscar-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele called OD, which he dubbed “risky.”
A second game, called Physint, was actually created to answer fans who said the first game wasn’t like the Metal Gear series and wanted something different. Also, a Death Stranding movie is in the works in cooperation with A24, wherein Kojima is trying to make it different from other video game movies.
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These developments are being closely watched by the gaming community, which is eager to see how Kojima balances his ambitious projects with the personal challenges he has been facing. Hs openness about the strains of game development and the passage of time provides a rare view of the reality behind blockbuster games.
Meanwhile, as fans await the release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, expected sometime in 2025, it is also a wish shared by all that Kojima would continue to create for many years to come.
