Hideo Kojima Worried COVID Would Rob Him and Us of His Willingness to Create

There’s one thing that’s inevitable and we all think about it: death. Video game auteur Hideo Kojima, too, had this thought when the COVID pandemic was spreading all across the earth. During 2020, he seriously fell ill, and recovery seems a long-lost thing to him. But it’s 2025 now, and Mr. Kojima is 61 years old and waiting for the global release of his next game, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, where he has put some good emphasis on music. Recently, he was talking to GQ magazine, where he shared this experience with them. He said,

I thought that I could never recover. I felt like I might not ever be able to create a game again.

Kojima, who has given us franchises like Metal Gear, is also a film enthusiast, and his passion for films can be seen in video games. There’s a 71-minute cutscene in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots. That’s one movie in itself, so gamers can sit back and grab some popcorn before more action begins in that game.

Hideo Kojima’s Outlook on Life has Changed

It’s no wonder that after going through some illness that can make a man feel that he is about to die, it can certainly change how they see things in life. When asked about this, Hideo Kojima said,

I feel nervous. I feel rushed. I still have a lot of things I want to do – that I need to do. I thought I could do anything if I was independent, but the reality is that I can’t. I always think of other, more weird stuff to make. But if I do that, and it doesn’t sell, my studio will go bankrupt. I know all the staff. I know the families of the staff. I have this burden on my shoulders.

Recently, Kojima stuffed a pen drive with his idea and gave it to his PA. In case something happens to him, he believes that it will keep his studio running. Other than Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, his upcoming games include OD and Physint.

For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, take a look at our interview with the Splitgate 2 and 1047 Games CEO, or take a look at what’s new in Stygian: Outer Gods early access trailer. Otherwise, follow Thumb Wars on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to keep up with the latest news, reviews, and interviews!

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Follow us

Save

Marcus Griggs

Marcus Griggs is a Writer at Thumb Wars, zeroed in on video games, but will also throw himself into anything in association with anime and cinema. As with his favorite video games, give him anything with a linear story, be it Call of Duty or Braid, and he will be happy. He thinks of stories as food and wants to feed his readers something nutritious, food for thought.