If Not for Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima May Not Have Been Able to or Allowed to Work on His Own Company’s Death Stranding

Director Hideo Kojima is one of the most respected game developers of his time and has redefined the stealth genre through the Metal Gear series. The fans adored his creativity and applauded his decision to branch out as an independent developer with the help of some of the biggest names in the industry.

The director recalled how Kojima Productions came to be and shared his experiences while developing his first original video game outside his work with Konami. The gaming community had no idea what Kojima had in mind for his next project; however, most were optimistic about his uniqueness.

Director Hideo Kojima Started His Company With a Vision and Boatloads of Luck

The gaming community anticipates that projects from Kojima Productions would be out of this world and filled with impressive visuals paired with a complex narrative.

The Japanese director credited other fellow game developers for their unique, authentic, and challenging video games. Hideo Kojima mentioned the work of Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware for pioneering the Soulslike genre and its contribution to the industry.

Starting a gaming company from the ground up is not as easy as one might think. In an interview about the second phase of Kojima Productions, the director recalled how he acquired his building after realizing that one of the owners was a fan of the Metal Gear franchise, and his previous work inadvertently gave him the tools he needed to start fresh on his feet.

Generally speaking, only publicly traded companies are able to rent offices in this building, so we were turned down at first. We were only able to get in because one of the owners was a fan of my games.

Kojima further explained how his previous work allowed him to get a bank loan.

Even when it came to getting a bank loan, it was only possible because an executive at a major bank had played my games.

The renowned Japanese game director had nothing but faith and his previous work to prove what he could accomplish and everything he needed to start his company was gained through respect and connections. The building owner and bank manager deserve partial credit for the success of Death Stranding.

We had absolutely nothing when we founded the company, and we’ve been able to come this far by way of our connections.

Major gaming companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment did not hesitate to help Kojima find his footing and get his first project up in the air. It is a testament to the director’s influence and how his established connections paved the way for him to continue his craft on his terms without being held back.

Kojima is one of the most respected game developers and other gaming companies realized his potential. Outpouring support and deals were offered to the director, which benefit the company and allow him to be flexible and explore his original ideas without being tethered to one partner.

Death Stranding Helped Put Kojima Productions on the Map

Fans are eager to dive back into Death Stranding and anticipate a massive visual leap. Some fans are guessing that Sony and Kojima will unveil a new limited edition of the rumored Pro model of the PlayStation 5 similar to what the pair did in the previous console generation and provide the best experience for the sequel.

Kojima has earned the respect of his colleagues in the game industry who are doing their part to help him realize his vision.

The gaming community knows what Kojima is capable of and his work on Death Stranding was a departure from the Metal Gear games. Kojima’s creativity tackled a story about grief and humanity that is relevant in today’s time.

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