Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind Metal Gear, recently revealed that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently in the demanding "crunch" phase of development, prompting reflections on his own creative longevity. In a series of X/Twitter posts, Kojima expressed fatigue and described the intense pressures of this final development stage.
While game studios generally strive to avoid crunch, Kojima's candid admission is noteworthy. He detailed the myriad tasks beyond game development itself, including writing, interviews, and other non-game-related work, highlighting the significant physical and mental toll. Although he didn't explicitly name Death Stranding 2, it's the most likely project in crunch, given its 2025 release date and the typical timing of this intense period. His other projects, OD and Physint, appear to be in earlier stages of development.
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, seems less directly linked to this current crunch and more to a broader reflection on his career, spurred by reading a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, he questions how much longer he can maintain his creative drive, acknowledging the relentless pace of his work. He cites Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as inspiration, noting Scott's creation of Gladiator after turning 60.
Despite these reflections, Kojima assures fans he intends to continue his creative journey, even after nearly four decades in the industry. Death Stranding 2's gameplay, showcased in September, promises the same bizarre and captivating style fans expect, featuring unique elements like a peculiar photo mode and unexpected characters, including one portrayed by George Miller, director of Mad Max. While story details remain shrouded in mystery, Kojima has confirmed certain character absences. The original Death Stranding received a 6/10 review from IGN, praising its unique world but criticizing its gameplay.
