As one of the most legendary video game developers, Hideo Kojima has made a reputation for himself in the industry. From the likes of Metal Gear Solid to Death Stranding, Kojima has a knack for creating amazing stories and engaging gameplay for the player.
Through his nearly four-decade-long career, he’s also had many ideas and projects that have not met the light of day. Remember Silent Hills?
One project that Kojima talked about in the early 2000s was his idea of a “raw game.” The player would be able to play this “raw game” for years if they wanted to. But if they die, the game will end forever.
A very ambitious idea from Hideo Kojima that has not seen the light of day yet. If this project did take off, how would the gaming industry be today?
Hideo Kojima’s Idea for a ‘Raw Game’
No surprise the Japanese developer would come up with this crazy idea. The storylines in Metal Gear and Death Stranding are bonkers as is. Kojima loves to think outside of the box, that most developers would not dare step into.
This “raw game” idea is unlike anything else the games industry has seen so far. Nearly every game allows you to continue after you die. You’re able to make mistakes and continue the adventure for however long you’d like.
Hideo Kojima wanted to turn this philosophy upside down and do the complete opposite. A game that “self-destructs” after the player dies.
This was just an idea and Kojima would bring it up again in 2008. The “raw game” was among several ideas the legendary developer had in mind. Maybe one day he would be able to bring these ideas to fruition.
Bringing Hideo Kojima’s ‘Raw Game’ to Life?
In late 2015, a Russian studio tried to bring Kojima’s idea to reality in the form of One Life. A first-person shooter where you would face against other players with only a single life. It is not necessarily a battle royale, but you would not be able to continue playing after you die. The game will lock you out forever.
The project never got finished, even though it made it to Steam Greenlight. In the year of 2024, it’s hard to get enough players invested into a project like Hideo Kojima’s “raw game.”
It’s an idea like no other but relinquishing player access to the game after they die is a hard sell. Imagine spending money on a game but if you die, you can’t play it anymore. Even if it was only $10, like One Life, it’s a difficult sell.
It’s a “raw game” for sure but will we ever see it? Only Hideo Kojima would be able to flesh out an idea like this and be successful in doing so.
What do you think of Hideo Kojima’s “raw game” idea? Let us know in the comments what you think!
