Hideo Kojima, the legendary creator behind the Metal Gear and Death Stranding series, has once again set the gaming world abuzz—this time not with a game announcement, but with his candid reflections on creativity and inspiration. During a recent appearance at the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kojima revealed a surprising detail about his personal gaming habits: he plays, at most, one video game a year. For someone whose name is synonymous with some of the most influential titles in gaming history, this admission was nothing short of a bombshell.
"Games take a lot of time, and I probably just play maybe one game a year," Kojima stated, according to Rolling Stone. He elaborated that his creative spark doesn’t come from hours spent behind a controller, but from a much broader palette: "I watch movies, read books, meet people, and go to museums, and I'm not copying anything from a game. And there are a lot of game creators just watching other games." For Kojima, it’s the world outside of gaming that truly fuels his imagination, a stance that’s as unconventional as it is controversial within an industry obsessed with self-reference and iteration.
The reaction from the gaming community was immediate and, as expected, fiercely divided. On social media, the debate raged: is Kojima’s approach a sign of creative genius, or does it render him out of touch with the medium he helped shape? Some critics pointed to what they perceive as cinematic excess in his recent games, with one Twitter user remarking, "Which explains why his games lack gameplay." Others accused him of being more interested in Hollywood than in interactive entertainment, referencing his decision to cast actors like Kiefer Sutherland in Metal Gear Solid V and the increasingly movie-like cutscenes in his games.
Yet, there was no shortage of defenders. Many argued that Kojima’s willingness to look beyond the gaming world is precisely what makes his work stand out. As noted by fans and commentators alike, some of the industry’s most iconic games—such as Pokémon, inspired by bug collecting, or The Legend of Zelda, born from childhood adventures in the woods—owe their existence to real-life experiences rather than to imitating other games. "Art and movies can be wonderful inspirations for games," one supporter wrote, suggesting that Kojima’s outside-the-box thinking is a much-needed antidote to the sameness that can plague the industry.
This debate comes at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the upcoming release of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a highly anticipated remake of the PlayStation 2 classic. As reported by Screen Rant, the influence of cinema—specifically, the James Bond franchise—is more apparent than ever in this new iteration. The game, set during the Cold War, places players in the shoes of FOX operative Naked Snake, who must navigate a web of espionage and betrayal after his mentor, the Boss, launches a nuclear device in Russia. The Bond homage is not subtle: a radio conversation in the game even references the film "From Russia With Love," highlighting the series' deep-rooted ties to spy thrillers.
For some players, this realization was revelatory. "I can't believe it took me so long to realize James Bond influenced Metal Gear Solid," one writer confessed, noting that the series is essentially a "Kojima-fied Bond"—espionage fiction with a distinctly surreal and philosophical twist. This newfound understanding has even prompted some to revisit earlier entries in the franchise, eager to trace the cinematic threads that run through Kojima’s work.
But Kojima’s creative process isn’t just about drawing from film and literature. At the Riyadh conference, he also shed light on the technical innovations powering his latest projects. Discussing the development of Death Stranding 2, Kojima revealed that the character models—already lauded for their realism—were created using an AI machine learning rig. He and his team painstakingly scanned the likenesses of celebrity friends, including director Nicolas Winding Refn (the inspiration for the character Heartman), to achieve a level of detail that blurs the line between the digital and the real. "We took so much time and made sure that we scanned them into digital but made sure that they move analog in a way. And it took so much time," Kojima explained.
Despite the acclaim for Death Stranding 2’s visuals, Kojima remains unsatisfied. "Looking back [to Death Stranding 2], I think it’s okay. But [for] my next project, I think I want to make it more realistic," he admitted. This relentless pursuit of authenticity, even as technology pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, underscores Kojima’s perfectionism and his drive to continually redefine the standards of interactive storytelling.
Currently, Kojima is collaborating with Microsoft on a mysterious new title called OD, further expanding his creative horizons. As reported by HQ, this project is expected to push the envelope even further, though details remain tightly under wraps. What is clear, however, is that Kojima’s refusal to be boxed in by convention—whether in his sources of inspiration or his technical ambitions—continues to set him apart in an industry that often prizes formula over innovation.
All this has reignited a broader conversation about where inspiration in game development should come from. Is the industry stuck in a loop, endlessly remixing its own past, or should creators look outward, as Kojima does, to bring fresh perspectives into their work? The debate is unlikely to be settled anytime soon. Yet, as the discourse unfolds, one thing is certain: Kojima’s willingness to challenge norms, embrace new influences, and openly share his philosophy keeps both fans and detractors engaged—and ensures that his next move is always a topic of fervent speculation.
Whether you see him as a visionary or a provocateur, Kojima’s latest revelation is a reminder that the most memorable art often comes from those willing to step outside their comfort zone. As the gaming world awaits his next project, all eyes are on the man who, for better or worse, refuses to play by the rules.
