Key Takeaways
1. Hideo Kojima expresses skepticism about current AAA gaming trends, noting a lack of innovation and repetitive themes in recent games.
2. The gaming industry faces challenges like a talent drain to AI and a focus on safe investments, leading to predictable game production.
3. Kojima prefers indie games that show originality over high-budget AAA titles, believing they are where true creativity happens.
4. He critiques game developers for lacking realism in military games, highlighting his own research and training in the subject.
5. Kojima emphasizes the importance of taking risks in game development to create memorable experiences, rather than just aiming for profitable hits.
The famous creator of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima, has shared his mixed feelings and insights about the present state of the AAA gaming world, which many believe is currently lacking in innovation.
Skepticism About Trends
In a recent chat with SSENSE, Kojima showed doubt when asked about today’s video game trends, saying, “Even the visuals and the game systems are pretty much the same.” He reflected on the recent Summer Games Fest 2025, which he thought was filled with repetitive themes of battling identical enemy types. While such games attract large audiences, he acknowledged, “a lot of people enjoy this, I understand,” hinting that the industry should break away from its comfort zone and focus on innovation instead of just chasing profits to create lasting masterpieces.
Industry Challenges
Kojima’s critique comes at a time when the gaming world is facing a talent drain to superior AI tools and publishers increasingly opting for safer investments for better returns. As a result, most AAA studios are playing it safe by continuously producing the same, predictable potential hits, prioritizing revenue over creativity, a trend he finds “kind of sad.”
Personal Gaming Preferences
Interestingly, Kojima’s feelings about the gaming industry also reflect his own gaming choices. In the interview, he mentioned that he seldom plays high-budget AAA games. Instead, he is more interested in creative indie games that showcase greater originality. He told SSENSE, “Indie games are where things are happening.”
A Visit to a Game Studio
While recounting a visit to a certain game studio for independent consultation on a stealth project, Kojima criticized their lack of depth. He remarked, “People who are making military games, they don’t know how to dismantle a gun or shoot a gun.” When probed about his knowledge of military equipment and tactics, Kojima elaborated with surprising detail, showing his dedication and research, “Yes, because I’ve been doing this training as well, and I learned so many ways to kill people as well.”
Thoughts on Metal Gear Solid Delta
When questioned about his interest in Konami’s upcoming remake of his iconic game, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, the former Konami director dismissed it with a laugh, saying, “No, I won’t.”
Departure from Konami
To clarify the situation, the different perspectives between Kojima and Konami that led to financial and creative disagreements resulted in Kojima’s exit. His last Metal Gear project, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, launched in September 2015, followed closely by his departure from Konami on December 16 of that same year.
Establishing a New Studio
Kojima then founded Kojima Productions, quickly attracting the interest of Sony. This support allowed him to pursue his ambitious and divisive project, resulting in the release of Death Stranding, followed by its sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which came out on June 26, 2025. Despite being a PlayStation 5 exclusive, the game has reportedly sold 1.4 million copies as of June 2025, boasting an impressive Metacritic score of 89/100.
Creative Freedom and Vision
While Kojima’s independent projects have allowed him to unleash his creativity, he initially feared that the game was “too likable.” This concern led to changes during development to ensure a more divisive experience. He believes that controversial games tend to last longer in the gaming world, stating, “I’m not trying to make something that’s going to sell millions and millions… I want to make something that’s going to be remembered in 20 years.”
Ambitions Beyond Earth
Currently, Kojima’s aspirations go beyond Earth. During the Sydney Film Festival in June 2025, he revealed his lifelong dream of making a game set in space, but emphasized the need for preparation: “I want to train properly, learn how to do the docking, go to the International Space Station, and stay there for a few months.”
A Call for Risk-Taking
Kojima’s ambitions reach far beyond the current goals of the gaming industry, which seems to be caught in a cycle of repetition. He believes that if developers truly want to create great games, they should embrace taking significant risks to reshape the gaming landscape.
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