Hideo Kojima Leaves USB Stick of Ideas for Staff, 'Like a Will'

In a fascinating revelation to Edge magazine, Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind numerous iconic video games, shared that he has compiled a USB stick filled with game concepts, which he has entrusted to his personal assistant. This collection serves as a "will" of sorts, intended to ensure the continuation of creativity at Kojima Productions even after his passing. The idea emerged from a profound shift in perspective triggered by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which included a serious illness and an eye operation. These experiences led Kojima to confront his mortality and question how many more years he had to contribute to the world of gaming and film.

Kojima's recent brush with health issues made him acutely aware of the fragility of life. "Turning 60 was less of a turning point in my life than my experiences during the pandemic," he reflected. "I fell seriously ill at that time, and also had an eye operation. Until then, I didn’t think I was old, you know? I just didn’t feel my age, and I assumed I would be able to create for as long as I live." The realization that his time might be limited prompted him to consider the future of Kojima Productions, expressing a desire for the studio to continue innovating beyond his existing intellectual properties.

Kojima has been thinking about what happens once he's gone. Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures.

In addition to planning for the future of his studio, Kojima continues to explore innovative concepts in his current projects. He recently discussed how the passage of time in real life can be integrated into gameplay mechanics. One scrapped idea from Death Stranding 2: On The Beach involved the protagonist Sam's beard growing over time, requiring players to manage his appearance. Kojima humorously noted that he opted not to include this feature to avoid making the game's star, Norman Reedus, look "uncool."

Kojima also shared three unique game concepts centered around the passage of time. The first is a "game of life" where the player character ages from childhood to old age, affecting their physical abilities and strategic approach to the game's challenges. Another concept involves creating products like wine or cheese, which mature over time, suggesting a game that could run in the background. Lastly, he proposed a "forgetting game" where the protagonist's memory and abilities deteriorate if the player takes too long a break, creating urgency to play frequently.

Currently, Kojima Productions is juggling multiple high-profile projects. Alongside Death Stranding 2, Kojima is collaborating with A24 on a live-action film adaptation of Death Stranding. He's also working on OD for Xbox Game Studios and Physint, a video game and movie hybrid for Sony. However, the ongoing video game actors strike has delayed progress on OD and Physint, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further updates on these ambitious projects.