Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind numerous groundbreaking video games, has recently shared intriguing details about his future plans and past concepts. In a revelation to Edge magazine, as reported by VGC, Kojima disclosed that he has prepared a USB stick filled with game ideas for his staff to use after his passing. This move comes as a response to his experiences during the pandemic, which included a serious illness and an eye operation, leading him to contemplate the finite nature of his creative career.

"Turning 60 was less of a turning point in my life than my experiences during the pandemic," Kojima stated. "I fell seriously ill at that time, and also had an eye operation. Until then, I didn’t think I was old, you know? I just didn’t feel my age, and I assumed I would be able to create for as long as I live. But then I became sick, and I couldn’t create anything. And I saw lots of people around me passing away at that time. I was confronted with death. Of course, I recovered, but now I was thinking, ‘Wait, how many years do I have left to make a game or a film?’ Perhaps I have 10 years?"

This introspection prompted Kojima not only to launch several new projects but also to create a USB stick, which he likened to a will, to ensure the future of Kojima Productions. "I gave a USB stick with all my ideas on it to my personal assistant, kind of like a will," he explained. "Perhaps they could continue to make things after I’m gone at Kojima Productions… This is a fear for me: what happens to Kojima Productions after I’m gone? I don’t want them to just manage our existing IP."

In a recent IGN report, Kojima delved into the concept of integrating real-life time passage into video games. He shared insights into mechanics he has implemented in past games and revealed unused concepts, including a scrapped idea for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. "I’ve thought about having characters’ hair grow in games," Kojima mentioned on his Japanese radio podcast KOJI10. "Originally in Death Stranding 2, I was going to have Sam’s beard gradually grow out over time, and the player would have to shave it. If they didn’t, Sam would end up looking unkempt," he elaborated. "However, as Norman Reedus is a big star, I didn’t want to make him look uncool!" Despite this, Kojima hinted that this feature might be used in future projects.

Kojima also unveiled three game concepts that revolve around the passage of real-life time. The first is a game of life where players start as children and age into elderly characters, affecting gameplay mechanics and strategy. "It starts out with the player being born, you’re a child and then gradually over time you become an adult. In the game, you fight various enemies. Like with the previous example (MGS3’s The End), if you keep playing the game, you will become a 70 or 80-year-old man. However, at this age you will be weaker, your eyesight will worsen. When you are a teenager you’ll be able to run faster but by the time you reach 60 you’ll slow down a bit," Kojima explained. He noted that although younger characters are in better physical shape, older ones benefit from accumulated knowledge and experience. Despite the innovative idea, Kojima humorously remarked, "But no-one would buy it!" Yet, his podcast co-hosts expressed enthusiasm for such a "Kojima-like game."

Another concept involves a game where players nurture something that matures over time, such as wine or cheese, suggesting a background or idle game format. Finally, Kojima proposed a "forgetting game" where the protagonist's abilities and memories diminish if the player takes extended breaks. "Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it," Kojima laughed, highlighting the urgency required to maintain the character's capabilities.

Currently, Kojima Productions is juggling multiple high-profile projects. Alongside Death Stranding 2, Kojima is collaborating with A24 on a live-action Death Stranding film, developing OD for Xbox Game Studios, and working on a video game and movie hybrid called Physint for Sony. However, release dates for OD and Physint remain undisclosed, partly due to delays caused by the ongoing video game actors strike, as revealed by Kojima in January.