Kojima Vows Lifelong Creation, Draws Tom Cruise Parallel

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind Metal Gear and Death Stranding, recently shared a sentiment with Tom Cruise regarding his career outlook, stating, "I want to keep creating things until I die."

Since entering the gaming industry at Konami in 1986, Kojima has been the creative force behind diverse titles such as Snatcher, the innovative solar-powered Boktai for the GBA, and the legendary P.T. demo. In a new interview focusing on his upcoming project, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Game*Spark inquired about his driving motivation and his reasons for continuing in game development.

"I’m the same as Tom Cruise (laughs)," he responded. "My life is about creation. That is my source of joy. I intend to create for as long as my mind and body allow. I would only reconsider if it started to burden those around me, but my desire is to create until my last day."

By drawing this parallel, Kojima is likely referencing 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 old age, even joking about continuing into his hundreds.

It's worth noting that Kojima, in his comments to Game*Spark, spoke broadly about "creating," not specifically making games. This leaves open the possibility of future projects outside the gaming sphere. Indeed, in a recent video conversation with French outlet Brut, Kojima mentioned that, depending on the status of Kojima Productions after finishing the Microsoft title OD and the Sony project Physint, he would be interested in directing a film.

Given their lengthy cutscenes and cinematic flair, some critics have labeled Kojima's games as interactive movies (we've even calculated the precise cutscene ratio in his work). However, Kojima addressed this perception with Game*Spark, clarifying that while films influence his aesthetic, his primary focus remains on the interactive medium.

"Having grown up with cinema, it naturally shapes my approach to lighting, character design, and direction," he explained. "But I am always mindful that I am not making a film. My core philosophy is to explore what is uniquely possible within a game, including a certain eccentric playfulness."

That signature playfulness is on full display in the unexpected cameos and bizarre secrets hidden throughout his games, especially for those who experiment. Explore our compiled list of Death Stranding 2 Easter eggs, cheats, and secrets discovered so far, or learn about the unusual antics you can trigger with Sam in the hot springs.

Of course, Kojima's work is already headed for the big screen, with a Death Stranding film adaptation in the works—a project star Norman Reedus has expressed eagerness to be part of.