Fresh off the heels of sharing several abandoned game concepts and even a unique idea for a “Forgetting Game” where players lose abilities and memories based on real-life inactivity, Hideo Kojima has made another intriguing revelation—this time with a haunting twist. The visionary game designer disclosed that he has left behind a USB stick filled with unreleased game ideas to be accessed after his passing.
As reported by VGC, Kojima shared this morbid yet forward-thinking plan during an interview with Edge magazine, explaining how his mindset changed significantly during the global pandemic. “Turning 60 wasn’t as impactful as what I experienced during the pandemic,” he reflected. “I fell seriously ill at that time and also had an eye operation. Up until then, I never felt old. I assumed I could keep creating for as long as I lived.”
The period of illness forced Kojima into a confrontation with mortality. “I couldn’t create anything, and I saw many people around me pass away,” he recalled. “Even though I recovered, I started wondering, ‘How many years do I have left to make games or films? Maybe just ten?’” This existential shift led him not only to take on new creative challenges but also to prepare for the future of Kojima Productions beyond his lifetime.
“I gave a USB stick containing all my game ideas to my personal assistant, almost like a will,” Kojima explained. “Perhaps they can continue making things at Kojima Productions even after I’m gone… My fear is, what happens to the studio once I’m no longer here? I don’t want them to simply manage existing IPs forever.”
In a recent episode of his Japanese radio podcast *KOJI10*, Kojima expanded on his fascination with incorporating real-time mechanics into video games. He revisited previously used systems and teased unused concepts, including one originally intended for *Death Stranding 2: On The Beach*.
“I considered implementing hair growth mechanics,” Kojima revealed. “Initially in *Death Stranding 2*, I wanted Sam’s beard to grow naturally over time, requiring the player to shave him. If ignored, he’d look disheveled.” However, he admitted backing down from the idea out of concern for actor Norman Reedus’ public image: “He’s a big star—I didn’t want to make him look uncool!” Despite dropping the feature for now, Kojima expressed interest in exploring it again in a future title.
Kojima also described three distinct game ideas centered around the passage of real-world time:
- A life simulation game starting from birth through old age, where physical ability declines while knowledge increases. “If you play long enough, your character becomes 70 or 80 years old,” Kojima explained. “They become slower, eyesight weakens, and strategies must change.” While acknowledging its niche appeal (“No one would buy it!”), others on the show were enthusiastic about such a uniquely Kojima-style concept.
- A slow-growth game revolving around cultivating something that matures over time—like wine or cheese. This would function similarly to idle or background games, encouraging gradual engagement over extended periods.
- The ‘Forgetting Game’, where the protagonist loses key abilities and information if the player takes extended breaks. For example, not playing daily could result in the character forgetting how to use a weapon or even their mission objectives. “Players might need to take a week off work just to finish it,” Kojima joked.
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Kojima Productions is currently in a high-gear development phase. Alongside *Death Stranding 2*, Kojima is collaborating with A24 on a live-action *Death Stranding* film. Additionally, he is working on two major projects: *OD* for Xbox Game Studios and the experimental hybrid project *Physint* for Sony.
Exact release windows for both *OD* and *Physint* remain unknown. In fact, Kojima himself admitted earlier this year that the ongoing voice actors' strike has delayed progress on both titles, meaning fans may have to wait some time before more details emerge.
