Hideo Kojima, the visionary director behind Death Stranding 2, has opened up about the grueling nature of game development, revealing the toll it is taking on him. As the game enters the difficult “crunch” phase, Kojima admits that the pressure is weighing heavily on him.
In a recent tweet, Kojima shared a somber photo of the night sky and a frowning emoji, expressing his exhaustion. “The most demanding period of game development – both physically and mentally – commonly known as ‘crunch time,'” he wrote.
“On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, there’s an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work. It’s incredibly tough.”
Crunch time, a period in which game developers work long hours to meet deadlines, has been a controversial practice in the industry. Many developers have spoken out against it, with some, like Dragon Age writer David Gaider, even suggesting that if crunch is truly necessary, the industry itself may be in trouble.
While Kojima hasn’t expressed doubts about the practice, he has acknowledged its impact on his own creativity. At 61 years old, Kojima reflected on his future in the industry, saying, “At this age, I can’t help but think about how much longer I’ll be able to stay ‘creative.'”
He added, “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 the clock.”
Kojima’s studio, Kojima Productions, is no stranger to crunch, having worked under similar conditions to complete the original Death Stranding in time for its 2019 release.
Despite the challenges, Kojima’s passion for creating games remains strong, though the pressures of the industry continue to make him question how much longer he can sustain his creative energy.
