Kojima Prepares Legacy with USB Stick of Game Ideas for Staff

Following the announcement of several unused video game concepts, including a unique ‘Forgetting Game’ where the protagonist loses critical skills and knowledge during extended breaks from play, Hideo Kojima has shared that he entrusted his team with a USB stick containing game ideas to guide Kojima Productions after his passing.

As noted by VGC, Kojima revealed this somber decision in an interview with Edge magazine, reflecting on a shift in perspective sparked by the pandemic.

“Reaching 60 wasn’t as pivotal as my experiences during the pandemic,” he explained. “I became gravely ill and underwent eye surgery. Before that, I never felt old or considered my age, believing I could create indefinitely.

“But illness halted my work, and I witnessed many around me pass away. It forced me to confront mortality. After recovering, I began wondering how many years I have left to craft a game or film—maybe a decade?”

This realization prompted Kojima to launch new projects and compile a USB stick of ideas, akin to a will, to ensure Kojima Productions’ future beyond his lifetime.

“I handed a USB stick with all my concepts to my personal assistant, like a will,” he said. “I hope they can keep creating at Kojima Productions after I’m gone. My fear is what happens to the studio if I’m not there—I don’t want them just managing existing IP.”

Recently, IGN covered Kojima’s ideas on incorporating real-time progression in games. Beyond discussing past time-based mechanics, he shared unused concepts, including one abandoned for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

“I’ve considered characters’ hair growing in games,” Kojima shared on his Japanese radio podcast KOJI10. “In Death Stranding 2, I initially planned for Sam’s beard to grow over time, requiring players to shave it to avoid an unkempt look. But since Norman Reedus is a major star, I didn’t want him to appear uncool!” He noted this idea might appear in a future project.

Kojima also outlined three game concepts centered on real-time progression. The first mimics life’s stages: “You start as a newborn, grow into a child, then an adult. As you play, you battle enemies. Like in MGS3’s The End, continued play ages your character to 70 or 80, weakening their physical abilities and eyesight. Teens run faster, but by 60, you slow down,” he explained, noting that while younger characters are physically stronger, older ones gain wisdom, impacting strategy. “But no one would buy it!” he laughed, though podcast guests were excited for such a unique concept.

Another idea involves crafting items like wine or cheese that mature over time, ideal for a long-term idle game.

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Lastly, Kojima proposed a “forgetting game” requiring rapid playthroughs. If players pause too long, the protagonist forgets key skills, like shooting or their role, eventually becoming immobile. “Players might need a week off work or school to finish it,” he joked.

Kojima Productions is bustling with projects, including Death Stranding 2, a live-action Death Stranding film with A24, OD for Xbox Game Studios, and Physint, a game-film hybrid for Sony.

No release dates are set for OD or Physint, as Kojima noted in January that the ongoing video game actors’ strike has delayed production.