Hideo Kojima Prepares for the Future: Leaves ‘Will’ of Game Ideas on USB Stick

Following his recent disclosure of several abandoned video game concepts, including a ‘Forgetting Game’ where the protagonist slowly loses crucial knowledge and skills if the game is not played frequently, Kojima has made an intriguing revelation. He has prepared a USB drive filled with game ideas for his team to potentially develop after his passing.

As VGC reported, Kojima shared this somewhat grim update with Edge magazine, reflecting on the profound impact the pandemic had on his perspective.

“The pandemic, rather than my 60th birthday, marked a significant turning point for me,” Kojima expressed. “I became severely ill during that period, and I also underwent eye surgery. Until then, I never really considered myself old; I didn’t feel my age and thought I’d continue creating indefinitely.

“However, my illness halted my creative activities, and I witnessed several acquaintances die, which brought me face-to-face with mortality. Although I recovered, I started to wonder, ‘How many more years do I have to pursue game or film production? Maybe 10 years?'”

This introspection led Kojima to not only embark on numerous new projects but also to compile a USB stick, akin to a will, which he hopes will help sustain the future of Kojima Productions beyond his lifetime.

“I handed a USB containing all my ideas to my assistant, much like a will,” he explained. “Perhaps they can continue to create at Kojima Productions after I’m gone… My concern is what will become of Kojima Productions once I’m no longer here? I don’t want the team to merely manage our current IPs.”

In a recent episode of his Japanese radio podcast KOJI10, Kojima discussed innovative concepts he has considered for games, such as characters’ hair growing over time. “Initially, in Death Stranding 2, I wanted Sam’s beard to grow gradually, requiring the player to shave it. If not, Sam would look disheveled,” he shared. “But considering Norman Reedus’s star status, I didn’t want to present him unfavorably!” Nonetheless, he mentioned it’s an idea he might incorporate into a future game.

Kojima also unveiled three game concepts that incorporate real-time aging as a central gameplay mechanic. The first concept simulates a lifetime: starting as a child and aging into adulthood while combating various adversaries. “Your physical abilities decline with age, but your knowledge and experience increase, affecting how you handle conflicts,” Kojima noted, though he humorously added, “But no one would buy it!” Yet, other podcast participants showed enthusiasm for such a distinctive “Kojima-like game.”

He also mentioned a game centered around creating items like wine or cheese, which would mature over time, suggesting it could function as a background or idle game.