Metal Gear Creator Hideo Kojima Says He’s Left His Staff a USB Stick of Ideas for After He Dies, ‘Kind of Like a Will’

Hideo Kojima, the legendary game designer, has recently shared some fascinating insights into his creative process and future plans, including a unique approach to ensuring his legacy continues even after he's gone.

In a revealing interview with Edge magazine, as reported by VGC, Kojima discussed how his perspective on life and work shifted dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. After turning 60 and experiencing serious illness, including an eye operation, Kojima began to confront his mortality more directly. "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," he explained. This brush with health issues made him question how much time he had left to create games and films, estimating perhaps another decade.

Kojima has been thinking about what happens once he's gone. Photo by John Phillips/Gett

This introspection led Kojima to embark on multiple new projects and to take a significant step to safeguard the future of Kojima Productions. He created a USB stick containing all his game ideas, which he handed to his personal assistant as a sort of creative will. "I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will," Kojima stated. His hope is that his team could continue to innovate and produce new content at Kojima Productions after his passing, rather than simply managing existing IPs.

Kojima's forward-thinking approach extends beyond his personal legacy. In a recent episode of his Japanese radio podcast KOJI10, as reported by IGN, he delved into the concept of incorporating real-time passing in video games. He shared a scrapped idea from the upcoming "Death Stranding 2: On The Beach," where the protagonist Sam's beard would grow over time, requiring the player to shave it to maintain his appearance. "However, as Norman Reedus is a big star, I didn’t want to make him look uncool!" Kojima noted, though he hinted at possibly revisiting this mechanic in future projects.

Kojima also unveiled three intriguing game concepts that revolve around the passage of time. The first is a game where the player's character ages from childhood to old age, impacting their physical abilities and strategic approach to gameplay. "But no-one would buy it!" Kojima humorously remarked, though his podcast co-hosts expressed enthusiasm for such a unique gaming experience.

Another idea involves a game centered around the maturation of products like wine or cheese, requiring players to engage over extended periods, possibly as a background or idle game. Lastly, Kojima proposed a "forgetting game" where the main character loses important skills and knowledge if the player takes too long a break from playing. "Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it," he laughed, highlighting the intense commitment this game would demand.

Kojima and his studio, Kojima Productions, are currently juggling multiple high-profile projects, including "Death Stranding 2," a live-action "Death Stranding" film with A24, "OD" for Xbox Game Studios, and "Physint" for Sony. However, delays due to the ongoing video game actors strike, as mentioned by Kojima in January, may push back the release dates for "OD" and "Physint."

Kojima's innovative ideas and dedication to his craft continue to push the boundaries of what video games can be, ensuring his influence will be felt for years to come, even beyond his own creative journey.