More than 30 years after his groundbreaking entry into the video game industry, Hideo Kojima has once again captivated audiences with his latest masterpiece. Released in 2025, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is widely hailed as one of the legendary game designer’s finest works, marking a significant milestone in his storied career. In a rare interview, Kojima shared insights into his unyielding creativity and the recurring theme of connection that permeates his games.
The concept of an “auteur” is traditionally associated with the film industry, describing creators whose unique artistic vision and style make their work instantly recognizable. Filmmakers like David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino epitomize this term, with their distinct cinematic signatures. However, the notion of the auteur has increasingly found relevance in the relatively young world of video games, with developers like Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and NieR‘s Yoko Taro being similarly recognized. Yet, for many, Hideo Kojima stands as the first true auteur of gaming.
Even those unfamiliar with his games likely know his name, whether through the iconic Metal Gear series or the more recent Death Stranding titles. Kojima’s signature style is unmistakable, characterized by intricate narratives and thematic depth.
A Happy Accident
Death Stranding, Kojima’s first project following his departure from Konami, carries a thematic weight that resonates with the times. After parting ways with his longtime publisher, Kojima regrouped, forming a small team to redefine what a AAA game could be. The result was a game centered not on conquest but on connection and the effort required to maintain it.
Coincidentally, Death Stranding launched just months before the COVID-19 pandemic, a game about isolation and reestablishing bonds in a fractured world. This foresight was not intentional, but rather a “happy accident,” as Kojima described it.
“I created a game about connections, and then COVID-19 came in and everyone was isolated. We all experienced it at once, and we’ve overcome it. So, I think we’re a little stronger,” Kojima shared during a roundtable interview for Death Stranding 2.
The pandemic prompted Kojima to rethink his next steps. Although he had an outline for a sequel, he chose to start afresh, making Death Stranding 2 a more personal project. “It had gotten to a point where I almost gave up. But I came back, and feel like I reconnected with myself through this project,” he explained.
The Best is Yet to Come
Despite expectations for a third Death Stranding installment, Kojima is charting a different course. A24 is set to produce a Death Stranding film, while an in-universe anime spin-off is in the works. Meanwhile, Kojima Productions is focused on OD, a cloud-based horror title developed in collaboration with Jordan Peele, backed by Xbox. This project marks a return to the horror genre for Kojima, reminiscent of his influential yet unreleased game, P.T.
Additionally, Kojima Productions is collaborating with Sony on Physint, a stealth espionage action game harkening back to Kojima’s earlier works. Although the project is in its early stages, Kojima remains the sole active developer.
While a third Death Stranding game is not off the table, Kojima has already conceptualized a follow-up. However, he may not be the one to bring it to life. At 62, Kojima has taken steps to ensure his legacy endures, entrusting a USB stick filled with his ideas to his personal assistant.
“I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will,” Kojima revealed, according to IGN. “Perhaps they could continue to make things after I’m gone at Kojima Productions… This is a fear for me: what happens to Kojima Productions after I’m gone? I don’t want them to just manage our existing IP.”
An Invitation to Connect
The theme of connection is a constant in Kojima’s work, often serving as both a warning and an invitation. While his games may caution against over-connection and the isolating effects of technology, they also encourage reaching out to others.
“I’d love it if people can take the experiences they had in the game into their real lives,” Kojima expressed. “It’s a game where you can feel lonely, but you still have a system where you’re indirectly connected to other players all over the world. You don’t have to feel alone anymore.”
In a world more fragmented than ever, Kojima’s message is simple: even when we’re apart, we’re not alone. We just have to find ways to reconnect.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launched on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5. The action-adventure game was written, produced, designed, and directed by Hideo Kojima, developed by Kojima Productions, and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
