Hideo Kojima on Creativity and Crunch During Death Stranding 2 Development

Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear series, recently shared his thoughts on the sustainability of his creative career while also revealing that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently in the throes of "crunch time." Through a series of X/Twitter posts, Kojima expressed his fatigue and detailed the intense period of game development that crunch represents.

Crunch time is a notorious phase in game development where teams often work extended hours, including days off, to meet deadlines. Despite many studios pledging to avoid such practices due to recent controversies, Kojima openly acknowledged the current crunch at Kojima Productions. "The most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally—commonly known as 'crunch time,'" Kojima stated. He elaborated on the myriad tasks piling up, including mixing, Japanese voice recording, writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work, all of which contribute to the grueling nature of this period.

Although Kojima did not directly mention Death Stranding 2, it is widely believed to be the project in question, given its 2025 release target and the typical timing of crunch phases near the end of development. Kojima Productions is also working on other projects, such as OD and Physint, but these are thought to be in earlier stages 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

Kojima's reflections on his career and potential retirement were not directly tied to the current crunch period but were inspired 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 remains active at 87 and created Gladiator past the age of 60, suggesting that Kojima is far from ready to hang up his creative hat.

Fans can take solace in Kojima's determination to continue creating, despite his long career spanning nearly four decades. In September, an extended look at Death Stranding 2 gameplay was released, showcasing the game's unique elements such as a bizarre photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. An introduction to the game's story was shared in January, though much remains mysterious due to its complex themes. Kojima has clarified which characters will not be returning, adding to the anticipation. IGN's review of the first Death Stranding game gave it a 6/10, noting, "Death Stranding delivers a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, but its gameplay struggles to support its weight."