Hideo Kojima, the renowned game designer, has recently shared a glimpse into his creative process and future plans, including a poignant revelation about his legacy. As reported by VGC, Kojima disclosed to Edge magazine that he has compiled a USB stick filled with game ideas, which he refers to as a kind of "will," to ensure that Kojima Productions continues to thrive after his eventual passing.
Kojima's perspective on life and work shifted significantly during the global pandemic, particularly after experiencing serious illness and undergoing an eye operation. These events prompted him to confront his mortality, leading to a reevaluation of his remaining time in the industry. "Turning 60 was less of a turning point in my life than my experiences during the pandemic," he shared. This realization spurred him to not only take on new projects but also to safeguard the future of his studio.
Kojima has been thinking about what happens once he's gone. Photo by John Phillips/[ttpp].
In addition to his thoughts on legacy, Kojima has been exploring innovative game mechanics, particularly those involving the passage of time. In a recent episode of his Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10, he discussed a concept for Death Stranding 2 where the protagonist, Sam, would have a growing beard that the player could choose to shave. However, this idea was scrapped due to concerns about the appearance of the character, played by actor Norman Reedus. Despite this, Kojima remains open to incorporating similar mechanics in future projects.
Kojima also revealed three intriguing game concepts centered around time. The first is a life simulation game where the player ages from childhood to old age, affecting their physical abilities and strategic approaches to gameplay. The second concept involves a game where players nurture something that matures over time, like wine or cheese, suggesting a long-term, idle-style gameplay experience. Lastly, he proposed a "forgetting game" where the main character's memory and skills degrade if the player takes breaks from the game, challenging players to complete it quickly or face the consequences of their character's increasing forgetfulness.
Amidst these creative explorations, Kojima Productions remains busy with multiple high-profile projects. In addition to Death Stranding 2, Kojima is collaborating with A24 on a live-action film adaptation of Death Stranding, and he's developing OD for Xbox Game Studios and a video game and movie hybrid called Physint for Sony. However, release dates for OD and Physint remain uncertain, partly due to the ongoing video game actors strike affecting production.
Kojima's forward-thinking and innovative approach continues to push the boundaries of what video games can be, ensuring his influence will be felt long into the future.
