Hideo Kojima expresses strong stance on his upcoming game, hinting at themes of mortality and legacy: "I won't be handing the baton to anyone; instead, I'll destroy the baton myself."
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Hits PS5 June 26, But Will PC Gamers Have to Wait Longer?
Get ready, game enthusiasts! Kojima Productions announces the release date for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, slated for PS5 on June 26. However, the PC version remains undated. The upcoming game promises a hefty dose of Metal Gear flavor, although we could do without the gushing fawning sessions over creator Hideo Kojima by its stars.
Kojima's been making the rounds on the interview circuit lately, and he seems to be in a reflective mood. He's talked this year about a USB stick where he keeps his game ideas, intended as a kind of will for Kojima Productions' staff. He's also got an idea for aging and dying in a game, but ironically, no one would buy it. The 61-year-old creative juggernaut finds himself confronting the reality that our time is limited.
Recently, Kojima sat down with GQ; he looked dapper in a snazzy suit, and launched straight into discussions about death, family, legacy—all while discussing Death Stranding 2.
"So-so," Kojima says about his feelings toward DS2. "There are so many things I still want to change. I want, like, six more months." He notes that today he might be satisfied, but tomorrow he'll play the same place again and feel differently. He draws a line, explaining that used to be when there was a master disc, and that was it. Now it's like, "OK, I'll let it go this time and do it for a patch."
Kojima discussed the time he has left creating games, expressing a wish that creating a new game would take only one year instead of the usual three or four. He mentioned the ideas he plans to leave for Kojima Productions, along with the responsibility he feels toward the staff. GQ referenced a past quote where Kojima talked about passing the baton in the loop of life, and his desire to be remembered when he does pass it on.
"I am not going to pass the baton to anyone-I will rather crush the baton," Kojima laughs. "I don't need to give 'Hideo Kojima' to anyone. If I pass the baton to my staff and tell them to make things the same way I do, the company will not succeed and will go out of business."
Asked to explain, Kojima elaborated that influence isn't a straightforward path. "Every day, if I tweet something that I like, a director or an actor or a musician contacts me," Kojima explains. "They say, 'I'm a creator because of your games.' But they didn't receive the baton of Hideo Kojima. They received my small fire. They're not copying me. They're not trying to be me. They have this fire, and they light up their own. And they'll probably give that to someone else."
The life cycle of influence comes full circle, mimicking the cycle of life, fueling new ideas and creations.
Rich StantonRich Stanton is a seasoned games journalist with a 15-year career. Found his start on Edge magazine before moving on to work for a plethora of outlets including Ars Technica, Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, Gamespot, the Guardian, IGN, the New Statesman, Polygon, and Vice. Prior to joining PC Gamer, he was the editor of Kotaku UK, the UK arm of Kotaku, for three years. He is the author of "A Brief History of Video Games," praised as a "must-read for serious-minded game historians and curious video game enthusiasts alike."
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is scheduled to release on PS5 on June 26, but the PC version release date remains unannounced.
- Kojima Productions' creator, Hideo Kojima, discussed his thoughts on Death Stranding 2 during an interview with GQ, expressing his desire to still make changes to the game.
- Kojima mentioned that he wishes creating a new game would take only one year instead of the usual three or four, expressing a sense of responsibility towards his staff.
- Kojima explained that influence isn't a straightforward path, stating that many creators in different fields credit his games for inspiring them, yet they don't aim to copy him, but rather light their own fire.
- Rich Stanton, a seasoned games journalist with a 15-year career, is the author of "A Brief History of Video Games," a book praised for its insight into the history of video games.
