Kojima Prepares Legacy USB for Staff, Envisions Future Projects

Fresh from unveiling a series of abandoned video game concepts, including a unique ‘Forgetting Game’ where the protagonist loses critical knowledge and skills during extended breaks from play, Hideo Kojima has shared that he’s entrusted his team with a USB drive containing game ideas to guide them after his passing.

As covered by VGC, Kojima shared this poignant insight with Edge magazine, reflecting on a shift in perspective sparked by the pandemic.

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

“But illness stopped me from working, and I witnessed many around me pass away. It forced me to confront mortality. After recovering, I started wondering, ‘How much time do I have left to create a game or film?’ Maybe a decade?”

This realization prompted Kojima to take on new projects and create a USB drive, described as “a kind of will,” to ensure Kojima Productions thrives after his death.

“I handed a USB with all my ideas 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 that the studio might only manage existing IP.”

Recently, IGN highlighted Kojima’s ideas on incorporating real-time progression in video games. Beyond discussing past time-based mechanics, he shared unused concepts, including one dropped from the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

“I’ve considered letting characters’ hair grow 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,” he said. “But since Norman Reedus is a major star, I didn’t want him to appear uncool!” Still, he noted this idea might feature 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. You face enemies throughout, and as you age in-game, you become a 70- or 80-year-old. Your vision fades, and movement slows. As a teen, you’re fast, but at 60, you rely on wisdom over speed,” he explained, noting that youth offers physical strength while age brings strategic depth. “But who’d buy it?” he quipped, though his podcast cohosts were eager for such a distinctive game.

Another concept involves crafting items like wine or cheese that mature over time, ideal for an idle or background game requiring long-term engagement.

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Lastly, Kojima proposed a “forgetting game” that demands rapid play. Here, the protagonist gradually loses critical skills and knowledge—like how to shoot or their role—if the player takes long breaks. “If you don’t play daily, the character forgets so much they can’t move,” Kojima said, joking, “Players might need a week off work or school to finish it!”

It’s a bustling period for Kojima and Kojima Productions. Alongside Death Stranding 2, he’s collaborating with A24 on a live-action Death Stranding film, known for acclaimed titles like Everything Everywhere All At Once. He’s also developing OD for Xbox Game Studios and Physint, a game-film hybrid, for Sony.

No release dates are set for OD or Physint. In January, Kojima noted that the ongoing video game actors’ strike has delayed production on both projects, suggesting updates may be some time away.