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 demanding "crunch time" phase of development.
Kojima's reflections, shared via a series of X/Twitter posts, paint a picture of intense workload. He described the crunch period as "the most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally," citing the numerous tasks beyond game development itself, including writing, interviews, and other non-game-related work.
While Kojima didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2 as the project in crunch, it's the most likely candidate given its 2025 release date and the typical timing of crunch towards the end of development. His other projects, OD and Physint, are seemingly 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 isn't solely attributed to this current crunch. Instead, reading a Ridley Scott biography seems to have sparked introspection on his own career and how much longer he can maintain his creative drive. The 61-year-old acknowledged the uncertainty of his creative lifespan, stating, "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative.'" However, he remains committed to his work, drawing inspiration from Ridley Scott's continued success at 87.
Despite nearly four decades in the industry, Kojima assures fans he's not planning an immediate retirement. Death Stranding 2 gameplay footage, released in September, showcased its signature bizarre style, featuring a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller. While story details remain somewhat ambiguous, Kojima has confirmed certain character absences. The first Death Stranding received a 6/10 review from IGN, praising its world-building but criticizing its gameplay.
