Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Metal Gear series, recently shared his reflections on creativity and the demanding nature of game development. Amidst the "crunch time" pressures surrounding Death Stranding 2: On the Beach's anticipated 2025 release, Kojima voiced his concerns about his creative longevity.

In a series of X/Twitter posts, Kojima described the intense workload, encompassing not only game development but also a multitude of other tasks: "mixing and Japanese voice recording," along with "writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work." He candidly admitted, "It’s incredibly tough."

While Kojima Productions has multiple projects underway, including the enigmatic OD and Physint, Death Stranding 2 is the most likely candidate currently experiencing crunch, a period typically associated with the final stages of development. The other projects appear to be in earlier phases of development, lacking concrete release dates.

Kojima's contemplation of his future creative capacity wasn't solely spurred by the current crunch. Reading a Ridley Scott biography appears to have triggered a broader reflection on his own career. At 61, he questions how much longer he can maintain his creative drive: "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative.'" He expressed a desire to continue, yet acknowledges the uncertainty of how many years he has left. He cited Ridley Scott's continued success at 87 as an inspiration.

Despite the challenges, Kojima's fans can rest assured; he remains committed to his craft, despite a nearly four-decade career in the video game industry.

A glimpse into Death Stranding 2's gameplay, unveiled last September, showcased its characteristically bizarre style, including a unique photo mode, dancing figures, and a character portrayed by George Miller (director of Mad Max). While a story introduction was released earlier this year, many aspects remain shrouded in mystery. Kojima has, however, confirmed some character absences. The first Death Stranding game, while praised for its unique world-building, received mixed reviews regarding its gameplay mechanics.