Playtests for Death Stranding 2 have been more positive than the first game, but creator Hideo Kojima isn’t “interested in appealing to the mass market”.
The first Death Stranding game was certainly divisive, but speaking to Edge Magazine Kojima discussed how he takes on board player feedback.
“Of course, I want people to play my game, so I must listen to them to a certain extent,” he said. “But also, I’m not interested in making something that appeals to everyone.”
With the previous games, Kojima explained that in playtests four out of 10 people would love it and six would say it’s terrible. “For me, I think that’s a good balance,” he said.
The sequel, however, is bringing in a more positive response. “Sony is pleased, of course, but I do wish it was a bit more controversial,” said Kojima. “Blockbuster films need an 80 percent approval rating – I don’t want to make games like that. I’m not interested in appealing to the mass market, or selling millions of copies. That’s not what I’m aiming for.”
Kojima later admitted a lot of people still expect him to create something like Metal Gear, the series he’s best known for. That has resulted in the forthcoming game Physint.
“Of course, I have lots of new ideas that I want to create,” he said. “But when I became sick during the pandemic, I realised that a lot of people wanted me to make something like Metal Gear. That’s when I had the idea for a new espionage game. I reflected, and thought the idea was good. I took it to Sony and they were incredibly supportive. We explored many options, and we agreed on doing Physint.”
Indeed, from my own preview of Death Stranding 2, there’s definitely a strong influence of Metal Gear in the increased focus on combat and stealth mechanics.
“There are so many people all over the world asking me to make another Metal Gear, so I added more options for combat,” Kojima said during the preview. “When I was working out those mechanics, I was a little worried because many of the staff that worked with me on Metal Gear still work here, and we kept saying to each other, ‘Does this feel too much like Metal Gear?’ It wasn’t on purpose.”
Beyond Physint, Kojima is spending time considering the legacy of his studio, Kojima Productions, and what it will create next.
“I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant – kind of like a will,” he told Edge. “Perhaps they could continue to make things after I’m gone, here 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.”
The creator already has ideas for endless Death Stranding sequels, but won’t be making them himself.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will release on PS5 next month, on 25th June.