Hideo Kojima put a secret stash of game ideas on a USB stick for when he dies

The creator behind Metal Gear and Death Stranding wants his studio to continue to make new games after his death, so he’s left some ideas on a USB stick for them.

Hideo Kojima’s games might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as seen with the divisive Death Stranding, but he certainly has plenty of interesting ideas.

The famed developer, who founded his own independent studio, Kojima Productions, in 2015 is best known for the Metal Gear franchise, which he worked on at Konami. His next title is Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, which looks set to amp up the weirdness with doll-like characters, Solid Snake lookalikes, and more baby-protecting shenanigans.

Kojima, who turned 60 during production on the sequel, has explained how he became more aware of his mortality after falling ill during the pandemic, which caused him to re-evaluate his studio’s future.

Speaking in an interview with Edge magazine, Kojima said: ‘Turning 60 was less of a turning point in my life than my experiences during the pandemic. 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.

‘But then I became sick, and I couldn’t create anything. And I saw lots of people around me passing away at that time. I was confronted with death. Of course, I recovered, but now I was thinking, ‘Wait, how many years do I have left to make games or a film? Perhaps I have 10 years?’

This illness led Kojima to reassess his career priorities. At one point, he wanted to direct a film, but directors Guillermo del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn – who both appear in Death Stranding – are said to have encouraged him to stick to video games.

In the interview, Kojima explained how his studio’s already confirmed future projects – the Metal Gear inspired Physint and Jordan Peele collaboration OD – were borne out of a desire to provide a stronger future for Kojima Productions beyond his lifetime.

These thoughts for his studio’s future have taken on a physical form via a USB stick Kojima has filled with his ideas, so Kojima Productions can continue to make new original games after his death.

‘I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will,’ he added. ‘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.’

Kojima has recently talked about some of his cancelled, and slightly mad, concepts on his radio podcast KOJI10. In the latest episode, he discussed one idea where the passage of time in real life would be a mechanic, where you would start out being born and ‘then gradually over time you become an adult’, which would affect your abilities.

‘If you keep playing the game, you will become a 70 or 80 year old man,’ Kojima explained. ‘However, at this age you will be weaker, your eyesight will worsen. When you are a teenager you’ll be able to run faster but by the time you reach 60 you’ll slow down a bit.’

While your character would be in better physical condition when they’re younger, the older you get the more knowledge and experience you possess. He added: ‘But no-would buy it!’

Elsewhere, Kojima proposed a game where your character gradually forgets important information and abilities, like ‘how to fire their gun or what their job is’, if you take too long a break from it. ‘Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it,’ he joked.

While these ideas appear to be just for podcast giggles, Kojima has experimented with real-time mechanics in the past. In Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, food you acquire would go off after a few days had passed in real life. An elderly boss, named The End, would also die of old age if you waited a week and booted up your save.

A similar mechanic almost made its way into Death Stranding 2. ‘Originally in Death Stranding 2, I was going to have Sam’s beard gradually grow out over time, and the player would have to shave it. If they didn’t, Sam would end up looking unkempt,’ Kojima said. ‘However, as Norman Reedus is a big star, I didn’t want to make him look uncool!’

Death Stranding 2 is set to launch on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025.

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