Passion does have a definition. In the video game industry, it’s short and sweet, “Hideo Kojima”. The video game auteur designed the Metal Gear series in his initial days following his hiring with Japanese video game giant Konami. He founded Kojima Productions within the company during his days there which later on went on to become an independent studio, giving fans the game of the year 2019, Death Stranding.
The game’s sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, is under development and likely to be released next year. It was recently announced during the PlayStation’s State of the Play, giving the fans a glimpse of the game’s narrative. Recently, his documentary, Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds, was released on Disney’s streaming platform Hotstar.
Hideo Kojima Don’t Just Make Games in Waking Reality
The latest documentary clocks in at around an hour, focusing on his Metal Gear days and the creative process of his now-separated studio. The passionate game designer says in the documentary, “Sometimes I do bug checks in my dreams.” Given his success in the industry, it shows video games are not simply a part of his profession, but life too.
Historically, his games, be it the Metal Gear franchise or Death Stranding, have proven good. They feel more like a movie than a game given the long cutscenes, the inclusion of famed celebrities, the sense of immersion during gameplay, and more. This also tells us the actor’s life-long passion for movies. He himself says that 70 percent of his “body is made of movies.”
It’s not just the storytelling but fortune-telling that makes his games one of a kind. He unknowingly, almost innocently, prophesized the pandemic through Death Stranding where people would be deprived of physical contact to avoid the spread of a disease. That explains why he rewrote the game’s sequel.
A Feast For Gaming Souls is Coming
The Metal Gear Solid creator seems to be returning to stealth genres again. Though unknown, he did reveal that “it is an interactive game.’ and like most of his creations, “it is also a movie at the same time.” With ‘currently a mysterious’ game, he hopes to “transcend the barriers between film and video games.”
As far as connecting worlds is concerned, it is currently a hope industry needs the most. Recent games from major studios like Ubisoft and Rocksteady Studios appeared to be set for a flying start, however, fans realized they were never meant to fly upon their release.
The fact that new games by Hideo Kojima are underway is a glimmer of hope to many who are craving solid content in games. As of now, we don’t know what’s to come out of that mind of Kojima’s, but it’s beyond question that it will be a feast for gaming souls.
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