Hideo Kojima Leaves USB Stick of Ideas for Staff, 'Like a Will'

Fresh off the heels of sharing several abandoned game concepts and even a unique idea for a ‘Forgetting Game’—where players lose abilities and key knowledge after extended breaks—Hideo Kojima has revealed a rather unusual legacy plan. According to a recent interview with Edge magazine, reported by VGC, Kojima has left his team a USB stick containing a treasure trove of unreleased game ideas, intended to guide Kojima Productions long after he’s gone.

This revelation came as part of a broader reflection on life and mortality that began during the global pandemic. “Turning 60 wasn’t as impactful as my experiences during the pandemic,” Kojima shared. “I fell seriously ill at that time and also had an eye operation. Until then, I didn’t think I was old—I just didn’t feel it. But when I got sick and saw people around me passing away, I was confronted with death.”

Thankfully, Kojima recovered, but this brush with mortality changed his perspective. “Now I’m thinking, how many years do I have left to make a game or a film? Maybe only ten?” This existential reevaluation led him not only to take on new creative projects, but also to prepare for the future of his studio beyond his own lifetime.

“I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will,” he explained. “Perhaps they could continue making things after I’m gone at Kojima Productions… It’s something I worry about—what happens to the studio once I’m gone? I don’t want them to just manage our existing IP.”

In another recent appearance on his Japanese radio podcast KOJI10, Kojima discussed how the passage of real-world time can influence gameplay mechanics. He revisited past implementations and shared unused ideas, including one originally planned for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

“I thought about having characters’ hair grow in games,” Kojima said. “Originally in Death Stranding 2, I was going to have Sam’s beard grow over time, and the player would have to shave it. If they didn’t, Sam would look unkempt,” he explained. “But since Norman Reedus is such a big star, I didn’t want to make him look uncool!” Despite cutting the mechanic, Kojima hasn’t ruled out using it in a future title.

He also shared three intriguing game concepts centered around the theme of real-time progression:

1. A Life Simulation Game: In this concept, the player starts as a newborn, grows into a child, and eventually becomes an adult. As time passes, the character ages, affecting both physical abilities and strategic options. While younger versions run faster and fight more nimbly, older iterations bring experience and wisdom. However, Kojima joked, “No one would buy it!” though others on the show were enthusiastic about the idea.
2. A Time-Based Creation Game: Inspired by aging wine or cheese, this idle-style game would require players to nurture and develop something over months or even years. The slow progress mirrors real-life maturation processes, offering a meditative gaming experience.
3. The Forgetting Game: A radical twist where the main character loses memories and skills if the player takes too long a break. Miss a few days, and the protagonist might forget how to shoot a gun or even what their mission is. Eventually, the character becomes paralyzed until the player returns. “Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it,” Kojima joked.

A Busy Future for Kojima Productions

With so many ambitious ideas on the table, it's no surprise that Kojima Productions is currently juggling multiple high-profile projects. These include Death Stranding 2, a live-action adaptation of the franchise with A24 (the studio behind critically acclaimed films like Everything Everywhere All At Once), OD for Xbox Game Studios, and the experimental hybrid project Physint for Sony.

However, due to ongoing challenges—including the video game actors strike earlier this year—there are still no official release dates for OD or Physint. Fans may need to be patient, but based on Kojima’s latest revelations, the wait could be well worth it.