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On June 28, 2024, Hideo Kojima, the creator of the Metal Gear series and founder of Kojima Productions, shared insights into his latest project, Death Stranding 2, at the Sydney film festival. The renowned video game designer’s connection with Australia is personal; he cites the Mad Max films, directed by his friend George Miller, as a significant influence on his work. Miller even makes an appearance in Death Stranding 2, which is set in a fictionalized version of Australia. Kojima’s affection for the country’s landscapes and wildlife inspired the game’s backdrop, though he was unable to visit due to the pandemic.
Kojima faced unique challenges during the development of Death Stranding 2, especially in directing the cast remotely from Japan. The process of performance capture, essential for the game, was difficult to manage over Zoom. By 2022, as restrictions lifted, Kojima was able to travel to Los Angeles and work more directly with his team, improving the production quality.
The theme of ‘connection’ is at the heart of both Death Stranding games. While the first game explored indirect player assistance, the sequel asks a profound question: ‘Should we have connected?’ This query reflects Kojima’s own feelings of isolation during the pandemic. He believes in-person collaboration fosters greater growth and innovation than remote work does. However, he recognizes the reality of modern workplaces, where not all can return to the office.
Beyond gaming, Kojima aspires to visit space and stay at the International Space Station, a personal challenge he equates to the thrill-seeking of actor Tom Cruise. As technology shapes our interactions, Kojima’s work prompts us to consider how we can balance its benefits with the irreplaceable value of real-life connections.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025.