Hideo Kojima on Creativity and Crunch During Death Stranding 2 Development

Hideo Kojima, the visionary creator behind the Metal Gear series, has recently shared insights into his ongoing creative journey and the intense "crunch time" phase that his latest project, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is currently experiencing. Through a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kojima expressed his fatigue and detailed the demanding nature of this critical development period.

Crunch time, often criticized in the gaming industry for its impact on developers' well-being, involves extended work hours and even working on days off. Despite industry efforts to minimize such practices, Kojima candidly shared the reality of his current workload. "The most demanding period of game development — both physically and mentally — commonly known as 'crunch time,'" he stated. He highlighted the multifaceted tasks he's juggling, including mixing, Japanese voice recording, and a range of non-game-related duties like writing and interviews.

Although Kojima didn't specifically mention Death Stranding 2, the game is a likely candidate for being in crunch phase given its anticipated 2025 release date. Other projects at Kojima Productions, such as OD and Physint, seem to be in earlier stages of development without set release windows.

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 reflections on his career longevity were not triggered by the current crunch period but rather by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, Kojima is contemplating his future in creativity. "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative,'" he mused, aspiring to continue his work for as long as possible, inspired by Ridley Scott's continued activity at age 87 and his creation of the masterpiece Gladiator past the age of 60.

Despite nearing four decades in the industry, Kojima remains committed to his craft, reassuring fans that retirement is not on his immediate horizon. An extended gameplay reveal for Death Stranding 2 in September showcased its unique elements, including a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, reflecting Kojima's signature style.

The game's story was introduced in January, though its complex themes leave much to the imagination. Kojima has clarified which characters will not return, adding to the anticipation. IGN's review of the original Death Stranding noted its intriguing supernatural sci-fi world but critiqued its gameplay for not fully supporting its ambitious narrative.