Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Death Stranding, recently shared his thoughts on the grueling challenges faced during the development of Death Stranding 2. He succinctly expressed his feelings with a single tweet: “Tired.”

Kojima described the current phase of development as incredibly demanding. His upcoming game does not yet have a release date but is anticipated to launch sometime in 2025. This period is often referred to as “crunch time,” a common term signifying the intense final stretch of game development that can take a toll on the team.

“On top of mixing and recording voice tracks, there’s an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work. It’s incredibly tough.”

This reflection raises questions regarding the sustainability of such effort within game development, especially as studios strive to reduce or eliminate crunch periods.

At his current stage in life, Kojima is increasingly contemplating how much longer he can maintain his creativity. He linked his situation to that of other influential figures in the industry, referencing Ridley Scott’s persistent activity well into his later years.

Kojima’s hope lies in continuing his creative journey without the burdens of burnout, prompting a thought that perhaps, in time, balancing the demands of game production might allow him to remain an active creator for years to come.