Hideo Kojima, the visionary creator behind the Metal Gear series, has openly shared his current struggles and thoughts about the future of his career amid the intense "crunch time" for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kojima revealed that he is feeling "tired" as he navigates through what he described as "the most demanding period of game development," known as crunch time.
Crunch time is notorious in the gaming industry, often involving extended work hours and sacrificing days off over long periods. Although many game studios have pledged to move away from this practice following recent controversies, it's notable for a studio head like Kojima to publicly acknowledge its occurrence. "The most demanding period of game development — both physically and mentally — commonly known as 'crunch time,'" Kojima stated. "On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, there’s an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work. It’s incredibly tough."
While Kojima did not explicitly mention Death Stranding 2, it's the most likely project currently in crunch phase, given its 2025 release target and the typical timing of crunch near the end of development. Other projects at Kojima Productions, such as the enigmatic OD and Physint, are believed to be in earlier stages without confirmed 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 and the sustainability of his creativity seem to stem not directly from the current crunch period, but rather from his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative,'" the 61-year-old Kojima mused. "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. Even now, at 87, Ridley Scott is still active. And back when he was past 60 — my current stage in life — he created the masterpiece Gladiator."
Despite these reflections, fans of Kojima's work can rest assured that retirement is not on the immediate horizon, as he remains determined to continue creating, fueled by nearly four decades of experience in the video game industry.
An extended gameplay reveal for Death Stranding 2 in September showcased the game's signature eccentricity, featuring a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. Additionally, 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. IGN's review of the original Death Stranding gave it a 6/10, noting, "Death Stranding delivers a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, but its gameplay struggles to support its weight."
