Hideo Kojima on Creativity and Crunch During Death Stranding 2 Development

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, has recently shared insights into his creative process and the current state of development for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In a series of X/Twitter posts, Kojima expressed his fatigue, revealing that the project is now in the intense "crunch time" phase of game development.

Crunch time, a notorious period in game development, is marked by extended work hours and high-pressure deadlines. Despite industry-wide efforts to reduce crunch following recent controversies, Kojima openly discussed the challenges he faces. "The most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally—commonly known as 'crunch time,'" he stated. Alongside mixing and Japanese voice recording, Kojima is juggling numerous other responsibilities, including writing, interviews, and non-game-related tasks, describing the workload as "incredibly tough."

Although Kojima didn't explicitly mention Death Stranding 2, the timing suggests it's the project in crunch, given its anticipated 2025 release. Other projects at Kojima Productions, such as OD and Physint, are believed to be in earlier stages without set release dates.

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

Interestingly, Kojima's thoughts on retirement seem to be influenced not by the current crunch but by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. Reflecting on his career at the age of 61, Kojima mused, "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative.' 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." He drew inspiration from Ridley Scott, who continues to work at 87 and created Gladiator past the age of 60, suggesting Kojima's determination to continue creating.

Fans can take comfort in knowing that Kojima remains committed to his craft, despite nearing four decades in the industry. In September, an extended gameplay look at Death Stranding 2 showcased its unique elements, including a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller. The game's narrative, introduced in January, remains complex and mysterious, with Kojima confirming the absence of certain characters from the original game. IGN's review of the first Death Stranding highlighted its fascinating world but noted that its gameplay struggled to support its ambitious themes.