Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, recently expressed concerns about his creative longevity while simultaneously revealing that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently in the demanding "crunch time" phase of development.
Kojima's reflections, shared via a series of X/Twitter posts, began with an admission of fatigue. He described the crunch period – characterized by extended work hours and days off sacrificed – as "the most demanding period of game development, both physically and mentally." This includes not only the core game development tasks but also a significant amount of additional work such as writing, giving interviews, and engaging in other non-game-related activities. He candidly admitted the immense pressure involved.
While Kojima didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2 as the project undergoing crunch, it's the most likely candidate given its anticipated 2025 release date and the typical timing of crunch towards the end of development. His studio's other projects, OD and Physint, appear to be in earlier stages.
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, however, doesn't seem directly linked to this current crunch. Instead, it appears spurred by reading a Ridley Scott biography, prompting him to reflect on his own career at age 61. He questioned how much longer he could maintain his creative drive, expressing a desire to continue but acknowledging the uncertainty of his future creative lifespan. He cited 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 the series' characteristically bizarre style. A January update offered a glimpse into the narrative, though much remains shrouded in mystery. Kojima has, however, confirmed which characters will not be returning. The first Death Stranding game received a 6/10 rating from IGN, praising its unique world but criticizing its gameplay.
