Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind Death Stranding 2, finds himself troubled by the game’s overwhelmingly positive early reviews. Read on to discover why this praise concerns him and what it means for the future of Kojima Productions.
Kojima Worries DS2 Might Just Be Another "Blockbuster"
Despite widespread acclaim for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (DS2), Hideo Kojima is apprehensive about the game's reception. In a recent interview with Game Informer on June 12, he shared his unease over how well the sequel has been received so far.
Kojima has always aimed to create works that stand the test of time. He believes that truly lasting art often goes unrecognized in its early days. Reflecting on this philosophy, he said, “Anything that lasts 10 or 20 years must be something new—something not immediately accepted. Those are the ones people look back on and say, ‘This is great.’”
This was precisely the path taken by the original Death Stranding and even Metal Gear, which only gained full appreciation years after their initial release. By contrast, the early enthusiasm for DS2 feels too immediate for Kojima’s liking.
He elaborated, “With Death Stranding 2, when I tested it, everyone liked it. That’s why I thought, ‘Maybe this is a problem.’ It was more universally praised than I expected. With the first Death Stranding, people had mixed reactions—some loved it, some didn’t.” He fears that DS2 may become just another blockbuster hit destined to fade from memory rather than evolve into a long-lasting cultural touchstone.
Still, while the praise is deserved due to the game’s improvements over its predecessor, Kojima hopes DS2 will spark inspiration among future creators. This, he says, is his ultimate aspiration.
Kojima Wants to Inspire Other Creators Rather Than Passing the "Baton"
When it comes to his creative legacy, Kojima has no interest in simply handing off his methods to others. In an interview with GQ Magazine on June 10, he made it clear: he has no plans to “pass the baton” to any successor.
“I’m not going to pass the baton to anyone. I’ll crush it instead,” he joked. “I don’t need to give ‘Hideo Kojima’ to anyone. If I told my staff to keep making games exactly like me, the company would fail.”
Instead of cloning his style, Kojima wants to ignite creativity in other artists, encouraging them to forge their own unique paths.
That said, he hasn’t ignored the practical side of succession planning. As reported by VGC on May 15, Kojima revealed in a recent issue of Edge Magazine that he left a USB drive containing unproduced game ideas with his personal assistant—a kind of digital will—to ensure Kojima Productions can continue should he pass away.
This decision came after a period of reflection during the pandemic, when Kojima fell seriously ill and reconsidered his priorities as he approached his 60th birthday.
“I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will. Perhaps they could continue to make things after I’m gone at Kojima Productions… This is a fear for me: what happens to Kojima Productions after I’m gone? I don’t want them to just manage our existing IP,” he explained.
For now, fans have nothing to worry about—Kojima remains deeply involved in the development of DS2, along with upcoming projects Physint for PlayStation and OD for Xbox.
New Death Stranding 2 Trailer Highlights Core Concepts: Explore, Connect, Survive
Following the gameplay reveal at the June 8 Game Premier event, the team released a brand-new trailer for *Death Stranding 2*. The three-minute video emphasizes the game’s core themes: **Explore**, **Connect**, and **Survive**.The sequel retains the deep narrative roots of its predecessor but introduces more dynamic action sequences and varied approaches to enemy encounters. Players will face increasingly complex environmental challenges and shifting terrain, requiring quick thinking and adaptability to succeed.
Kojima is currently traveling the world on the Death Stranding World Tour 2, visiting 12 global locations to celebrate the upcoming launch. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is scheduled to release on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Stay tuned to our dedicated Death Stranding 2 hub for the latest updates.
