Kojima Aims to Create Until Death, Compares Drive to Tom Cruise

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind Metal Gear and Death Stranding, recently shared a sentiment similar to Tom Cruise when discussing his career trajectory, stating: "I want to keep creating things until I die."

Since joining the industry at Konami in 1986, Kojima has developed a diverse portfolio of games, such as Snatcher, the innovative sunlight-powered Boktai for the GBA, and the legendary P.T. demo. In a recent Game*Spark interview focusing on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima reflected on his driving motivations and why he remains dedicated to game development.

"I'm like Tom Cruise (laughs)," he remarked. "My life has been about creating. That’s my passion. I intend to create as long as my mind and body allow. I’ll reconsider if it ever becomes a burden on others, but my goal is to create until my last breath."

By comparing himself to Cruise, Kojima likely references the actor’s recent remarks at the Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning premiere, where Cruise told The Hollywood Reporter he plans to keep making films well into his centenarian years.

Notably, Kojima didn’t limit his aspirations to games in his discussion with Game*Spark, speaking broadly about creation. This hints that he may explore non-gaming projects in the future. During a Brut interview, Kojima mentioned that, depending on Kojima Productions’ status after completing Microsoft’s OD and Sony’s Physint, he hopes to venture into filmmaking.

While Kojima’s games are often described as cinematic due to their lengthy cutscenes and filmic presentation (we’ve even quantified the cutscene ratios in his titles), he clarified in the Game*Spark interview that despite cinematic influences, his primary focus remains on gaming.

"Having grown up with movies, they naturally inspire aspects like lighting, character design, and direction," he explained. "But I’m always mindful that I’m creating a game, not a film. My core approach is to explore what’s uniquely possible in games, including unconventional playful elements."

This playful spirit shines through in the unexpected cameos and quirky Easter eggs scattered throughout his games, especially when players experiment. Discover the Death Stranding 2 Easter eggs, cheats, and secrets we’ve uncovered, or learn about the amusing antics Sam can perform in hot springs.

Unsurprisingly, Kojima is also connected to an actual film project: a Death Stranding adaptation, which Norman Reedus has expressed eagerness to headline.