In an interview with Geoff Keighley, Kojima explained how his usual procedure for coming up with a video game concept (looking and waiting for what a remote future will look like and integrating it into the context of entertainment) doesn’t seem entirely correct as the world was locked down.
“In the past, when it came to creating things, I had ideas about what might happen to society in 5, 10, 20 years,” Kojima said. “It was like predicting the long term and adding the essence of entertainment. “That’s how I created. But this time, [the pandemic] came too soon. Reality came too soon, especially in Death Stranding. So I replaced my way of thinking and creating now.
We can’t blame Kojima for making the comparison. Death Stranding, released in November 2019, is set in a post-apocalyptic America in which the remaining survivors live in walled cities or barricade themselves in remote farms.
The main character Sam Bridges (played by Norman Reedus) works as a courier, traversing vast expanses of land to deliver packages. Less than six months later, COVID-19 would force countless people to flee their homes and their in-person interactions with others. .
Kojima’s work beyond on the Metal Gear Solid franchise has been praised for its depiction of robotization and the increasing corporatization of military warfare, among other themes.
“But because times are catching up so quickly, it’s really not fiction anymore,” Kojima said. “So I rethought my artistic process. I guess all creators think the same way. It’s almost similar to what happened after 9/11. If you know the direction we deserve to take as entertainment, I think it’s a great project for us. “
When asked about his upcoming project, Kojima declined to elaborate, but said that “it may not be like the past, possibly it will not be one step at a time. “
Kojima has announced Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, which will be available on PS5, although a release date has not been revealed. Fans were able to see a brief preview of Norman Reedus’ character going in and out of a cardboard box Metal Gear Solid-style. however, as for the other in Director’s Cut, we’ll have to wait for Kojima’s full reveal of the game, which he says is “weeks away. “
Be sure to check out everything else that was shown at Geoff Keighley’s Summer of Games launch event, adding a reveal of Elden Ring’s gameplay and much more.
Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/MEME for IGN.