Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear series, has recently shared insights into the challenging phase of game development known as "crunch time" while working on the highly anticipated sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In a series of candid X/Twitter posts, Kojima expressed his exhaustion and described the intensity of this critical development period.
Crunch time, a phase where developers work extended hours and often sacrifice days off, has been a contentious issue in the gaming industry. Despite many studios pledging to minimize or eliminate crunch, Kojima openly acknowledged its presence in his current project. "The most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally—commonly known as 'crunch time,'" he stated. Alongside mixing and Japanese voice recording, Kojima highlighted the additional workload of writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and other non-game-related tasks, labeling it as "incredibly tough."
Although Kojima did not explicitly mention Death Stranding 2, the game's impending 2025 release date suggests it is the likely focus of this crunch phase. Other projects at Kojima Productions, such as OD and Physint, are still in earlier stages of development without set release windows.
The most demanding period of game development—both physically and mentally—commonly known as “crunch time.” On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, there’s an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and… https://t.co/FrXRgaS748
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) January 10, 2025
Interestingly, Kojima's reflections on his career and creativity were not directly tied to the current crunch period but rather inspired by his recent purchase of a Ridley Scott biography. At 61, Kojima pondered the longevity of his creative journey, expressing a desire to continue working indefinitely. "At this age, I can't help but think about how much longer I'll be able to stay 'creative,'" he mused. Drawing inspiration from Ridley Scott, who remains active at 87 and created Gladiator past the age of 60, Kojima's determination to keep pushing forward reassures fans that retirement is not on his immediate horizon.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has already showcased its unique gameplay elements in an extended look released in September, featuring bizarre elements like a super weird photo mode, dancing puppet men, and a character portrayed by George Miller, the director of Mad Max. An introduction to the game's story was shared in January, though its complex themes leave much to the imagination. Kojima has confirmed the absence of certain characters from the original game. IGN's review of the first Death Stranding noted, "Death Stranding delivers a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, but its gameplay struggles to support its weight," awarding it a 6/10.
