"Kojima Loses Sleep Over Rave Reviews for Death Stranding 2"

Hideo Kojima expresses concern over the overwhelmingly positive reception of Death Stranding 2, fearing it may not stand the test of time. Read on to discover why early praise worries him and what he envisions for his studio’s future.

Kojima Worries DS2 Might Just Be Another "Blockbuster"

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (DS2) has received widespread acclaim, yet this very praise has left director Hideo Kojima feeling uneasy. In a recent interview with Game Informer on June 12, he shared his thoughts on the game's early reception and why it concerns him.

Kojima has always aimed to create something timeless—works that continue to resonate years later. Reflecting on history, he pointed out that many enduring pieces of art were initially misunderstood or poorly received. “Anything that lasts 10 or 20 years must be new,” he explained. “And most of those are not received well at the start. They exist for 20 or 30 years before people look back and say, ‘This is great.’”

This was exactly the approach he took with the original Death Stranding. Even Metal Gear took nearly a decade to be fully appreciated. Comparatively, the initial response to DS2 has been too favorable for his comfort.

He continued, “So for Death Stranding 2, when I tested it, it wasn’t like that. Everyone liked it. That’s why I said, ‘Maybe this is a problem.’ It was more [liked] than my prediction because in Death Stranding, everyone had pros and cons.” He fears that DS2 might simply become another popular blockbuster destined to fade from memory, rather than a long-lasting creative milestone.

Although DS2 deserves its current praise for building upon the first game’s foundation, Kojima hopes it will inspire a small but passionate group of followers who may one day become creators themselves—an aspiration he considers his ultimate goal.

Kojima Wants to Inspire Other Creators Rather Than Passing the "Baton"

When it comes to continuing his legacy, Kojima has made it clear—he doesn't want anyone to merely replicate his style. In an interview with GQ Magazine on June 10, he stated that he has no intention of "passing the baton" to a successor.

“I am not going to pass the baton to anyone. I will rather crush the baton… [Laughs.] I don’t need to give ‘Hideo Kojima’ to anyone,” he remarked. He believes that handing down his methods verbatim would ultimately harm the company. Instead, he wants to ignite inspiration in others so they can create their own unique works, not just imitate his.

Still, Kojima has prepared for the future of Kojima Productions. As reported by VGC on May 15, he revealed in the latest issue of Edge Magazine that he has stored a collection of unreleased game ideas on a USB drive for his team to use if anything were to happen to him.

The experience of falling seriously ill during the pandemic and nearing the age of 60 prompted him to reevaluate his life and ensure the longevity of his studio.

“I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will. 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,” he said.

That said, fans have nothing to worry about—at least for now. Kojima remains deeply involved in DS2’s development, as well as other upcoming projects like Physint with PlayStation and OD with Xbox.

New Death Stranding 2 Trailer Highlights Core Concepts: Explore, Connect, Survive

While maintaining the deep narrative roots of the original, DS2 promises more intense action sequences and flexible approaches to combat. With dynamic environments and shifting terrain, players must adapt quickly to complete missions successfully.

Kojima is currently on the Death Stranding World Tour 2, visiting 12 global locations to celebrate the upcoming launch. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is scheduled to release on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more updates via our dedicated [ttpp] coverage.