Metal Gear Creator Hideo Kojima Questions How Long He Can Stay Creative as Death Stranding 2 Dev Endures Crunch

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 in the demanding "crunch" phase of development.

Kojima's reflections, shared via X/Twitter, revealed both his fatigue and the intense pressures of this final development stage. He described crunch as the "most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally," highlighting the multitude of 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 experiencing crunch, it's the most likely candidate given its 2025 release date and the typical timing of crunch periods 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, however, doesn't seem directly linked to the current crunch. Instead, it appears spurred by reading a Ridley Scott biography, prompting him to reflect on his own career at 61. He expressed uncertainty about how much longer he can maintain his creative drive, stating, "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative.'" Despite this, he remains committed to continuing his work, drawing inspiration from Ridley Scott's continued success at an advanced age.

Death Stranding 2 gameplay footage, unveiled in September, showcased its characteristically bizarre style, featuring elements like a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller. A story introduction followed in January, though much remains undisclosed. Kojima has, however, confirmed certain character absences. The first Death Stranding received a 6/10 review from IGN, praising its unique world but criticizing its gameplay.