Hideo Kojima on Creativity and Crunch During Death Stranding 2 Development

Hideo Kojima, the visionary creator behind the Metal Gear series, recently shared his thoughts on the challenges of maintaining creativity as he ages, while also revealing that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is currently in the midst of "crunch time." In a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kojima expressed his fatigue, highlighting the demanding nature of this critical phase in game development.

Crunch time, a period where game developers often work extended hours and even on days off, has been a controversial topic in the industry. Many studios have pledged to avoid it following public outcry over its impact on employee well-being. Kojima's candid admission about experiencing crunch time at Kojima Productions is notable, as it's rare for a studio head to publicly acknowledge such conditions.

"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 piling up during this phase, including mixing, Japanese voice recording, writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and other non-game-related work. "It's incredibly tough," he admitted.

Although Kojima did not specifically mention Death Stranding 2, it is likely the project in question given its scheduled 2025 release and the timing of crunch periods towards the end of development. The studio's other projects, OD and Physint, seem 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… pic.twitter.com/FrXRgaS748

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) January 10, 2025

Kojima's reflections on his career longevity were spurred not by the current crunch period, but 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 created the masterpiece Gladiator past the age of 60.

Despite nearly four decades in the gaming industry, Kojima remains determined to continue his creative pursuits, much to the relief of his fans. An extended gameplay reveal of Death Stranding 2 in September showcased the game's bizarre elements, including a unique photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max.

In January, Kojima introduced some story elements, though much remains mysterious due to the game's complex themes. He has confirmed which characters will not return from the first game. IGN's review of the original Death Stranding gave it a 6/10, stating, "Death Stranding delivers a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, but its gameplay struggles to support its weight."