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

Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear series, has 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 "crunch time" phase of development. Through a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kojima expressed his fatigue and described the crunch period as "the most demanding" part of game development, both physically and mentally.

Crunch time, a term familiar to the gaming industry, refers to the period when developers work extended hours, often sacrificing days off, to meet project deadlines. Despite many studios pledging to avoid such practices following recent controversies, Kojima's candid admission of being in crunch time is noteworthy, especially coming from a studio head.

Kojima detailed the myriad tasks that pile up during this phase, including mixing, Japanese voice recording, writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and other non-game-related work. Although he didn't mention Death Stranding 2 by name, the game, slated for a 2025 release, is the most likely candidate for being in this critical stage, as opposed to the studio's other projects, OD and Physint, which are still in earlier development phases.

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, it's not the current crunch period that has prompted Kojima to contemplate retirement. Instead, his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography has led him to reflect on his own career trajectory. At 61, Kojima wonders how much longer he can remain creative, drawing inspiration from Scott, who at 87 is still actively directing and who created the masterpiece Gladiator past the age of 60.

Despite these reflections, fans of Kojima's work need not worry about an imminent retirement. The legendary game designer remains determined to continue his creative journey, even after nearly four decades in the industry.

In other news, an extended gameplay reveal of 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 much remains mysterious due to its complex themes. Kojima has confirmed which characters will not be returning from the first game, which received a 6/10 review from IGN, noting that while it delivered a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, its gameplay struggled to support its ambitious narrative.