Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear series, has recently shared his thoughts on the sustainability of his creativity while also revealing that 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 exhaustion and detailed the challenges of this critical period in game development.
Crunch time, often criticized in the gaming industry for its demanding nature, involves extended working hours and work on days off. Despite many studios pledging to avoid such practices due to recent controversies, Kojima's candid admission about facing crunch time stands out. "The most demanding period of game development — both physically and mentally — commonly known as 'crunch time,'" Kojima stated. He elaborated on the multitude of tasks that pile up during this phase, including mixing, Japanese voice recording, writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and other non-game-related work, describing it as "incredibly tough."
Although Kojima did not directly mention Death Stranding 2, the game is the likely subject of his crunch time comments, given its impending 2025 release date. Other projects at Kojima Productions, such as OD and Physint, are believed to be in earlier stages of development without set 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
Interestingly, Kojima's reflections on his career longevity were not spurred by the current crunch phase but rather by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, Kojima pondered, "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative.' 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." He drew inspiration from Ridley Scott, who at 87 remains active and, at an age similar to Kojima's current stage, directed the acclaimed film Gladiator.
Fans can rest assured that Kojima has no immediate plans for retirement, as he remains committed to his craft despite nearly four decades in the industry. An extended gameplay showcase for Death Stranding 2 in September revealed its typically bizarre elements, including a unique photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. In January, an introduction to the game's story was shared, though much of its complex themes remain to be explored. Kojima has also confirmed which characters will not be returning in the sequel.
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." As anticipation builds for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, fans eagerly await to see how Kojima will further push the boundaries of gaming and storytelling.
