Legendary game creator Hideo Kojima is contemplating how long he can maintain his creative spark while confirming that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is deep in its most demanding phase of development.
In a series of posts on social media, Kojima shared his exhaustion, calling this period the toughest part of game development—commonly known as “crunch time.” He described the overwhelming workload, which includes not just finalizing the game but also handling voice recording, writing, interviews, and various other commitments.
Crunch, where developers work extended hours over long periods, has been widely criticized in the gaming industry, with many studios vowing to move away from it. It’s rare for a studio head to openly acknowledge experiencing it.
“The most physically and mentally demanding period of game development—commonly known as ‘crunch time,’” Kojima said. “In addition to Japanese voice recording and mixing, there’s a mountain of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and even work unrelated to the game. It’s incredibly tough.”
Though Kojima didn’t specify Death Stranding 2 by name, it’s the most likely project undergoing crunch, given its planned 2025 release. His studio is also working on OD and Physint, but those appear to be in much earlier stages of development.
However, it’s not just the pressures of crunch that have him thinking about the future. A recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography led Kojima to reflect on his own career and how much longer he can continue creating.
“At this age, I can’t help but wonder how much longer I’ll be able to stay ‘creative,’” the 61-year-old said. “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 time. Even now, at 87, Ridley Scott is still active. And back when he was past 60—my current stage in life—he made Gladiator.”
Despite nearly four decades in the industry, Kojima is still determined to keep pushing forward, reassuring fans that retirement isn’t happening anytime soon.
A fresh look at Death Stranding 2 was revealed last September, showcasing its signature strangeness, from an eccentric photo mode to dancing puppet-like figures and a character portrayed by Mad Max director George Miller. Another story introduction was shared in January, but given Kojima’s complex storytelling, plenty of mysteries remain. He has, however, confirmed which characters won’t be returning for the sequel.
