Hideo Kojima on Creativity and Crunch During Death Stranding 2 Development

Hideo Kojima, the visionary creator behind the Metal Gear series, recently shared his thoughts on the sustainability of his creative career while also revealing that his latest project, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is currently in the intense phase known as "crunch time." Through a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kojima expressed his exhaustion and detailed the challenges of this critical stage in game development.

Crunch time, a period where game developers often work extended hours and even on days off, has been a controversial topic in the gaming industry. Many studios have pledged to avoid it following public scrutiny. However, Kojima's candid admission about being in crunch time is unusual for a studio head. He described it as "the most demanding period of game development — both physically and mentally," involving not only mixing and Japanese voice recording but also a myriad of other tasks such as writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work.

Although Kojima did not specifically mention Death Stranding 2 in his posts, it is widely believed to be the project in question, given its 2025 release target and the fact that crunch typically occurs near the end of development. Kojima Productions is also working on other projects like OD and Physint, but these are likely in earlier stages of development 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

Kojima's reflections on his career longevity were not directly tied to the current crunch period but rather inspired by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, Kojima pondered, "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 remains active at 87 and created the masterpiece Gladiator past the age of 60.

Despite nearing four decades in the video game industry, Kojima's determination to continue creating reassures fans that retirement is not imminent. In September, an extended look at Death Stranding 2 gameplay showcased the game's unique elements, including a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. An introduction to the game's story was shared in January, though its complex themes leave much to the imagination. Kojima has confirmed which characters will not be returning, adding to the anticipation.

In IGN's 6/10 review of the original Death Stranding, the game was praised for its "fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi," but criticized for gameplay that "struggles to support its weight." As Death Stranding 2: On the Beach approaches its release, fans eagerly await to see how Kojima's creative vision will evolve.