Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, recently revealed that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently in the demanding "crunch time" phase of development, prompting him to reflect on his creative longevity.
In a series of X/Twitter posts, Kojima expressed his fatigue, describing crunch as the most physically and mentally taxing period of game development. He highlighted the numerous tasks beyond game development itself, including writing, commentary, interviews, and other non-game related work, emphasizing the intense pressure.
While Kojima didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2, it's the most probable candidate given its anticipated 2025 release and the typical timing of crunch periods towards the end of development. His other projects, OD and Physint, appear to be 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 isn't solely attributed to this current crunch. Instead, reading a Ridley Scott biography seems to have sparked reflection on his own career trajectory. At 61, he questions how much longer he can maintain his creative drive, though he expresses a desire to continue for years to come. He cites Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as inspiration.
Despite the challenges and his self-reflection, Kojima assures fans he intends to continue his work, despite a nearly four-decade career in the gaming industry.
September brought an extended look at Death Stranding 2's gameplay, showcasing its characteristically bizarre elements: a unique photo mode, dancing puppet figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller (Mad Max director). A January introduction further unveiled aspects of the story, though many details remain shrouded in mystery. Kojima has, however, confirmed which characters will not be returning. IGN's review of the first Death Stranding game scored it a 6/10, praising its unique world but criticizing its gameplay.
