Video game legend Hideo Kojima has shared an outlook similar to Tom Cruise on his creative future, stating emphatically, "I want to keep creating things until I die."
Since joining Konami in 1986, Kojima has been the mastermind behind diverse titles like Snatcher, the inventive sun-powered Boktai for the GBA, and the legendary P.T. demo. In a recent conversation with Game*Spark about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima reflected on his enduring drive to develop games.
"I'm just like Tom Cruise," he remarked with a laugh. "My entire existence is about creation. That's my source of joy. I plan to create for as long as my mind and body allow. I'd only reconsider if it started to burden those close to me, but my wish is to create until my last breath."
By comparing himself to Cruise, Kojima likely references the actor's own recent statements at the "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" premiere. There, Cruise told The Hollywood Reporter he has no plans to retire from filmmaking, even joking about continuing well past age 100.
Notably, Kojima told Game*Spark he intends to keep *creating*—not necessarily just making games. This hints he's considering non-interactive projects. In a separate interview with Brut, Kojima revealed that after finishing Microsoft's OD and Sony's Physint, he would like to direct a film, depending on his studio's status.
With their extended cutscenes and cinematic flair, Kojima's games are often described as movie-like. However, he clarified to Game*Spark that while film deeply influences his lighting, character design, and direction, his core focus remains on the interactive medium.
"I am always conscious that I am making a game, not a movie," he explained. "My foundational approach is to explore what only games can achieve, which includes a unique, playful spirit."
That playful spirit shines through in his games' unexpected cameos and bizarre secrets, especially when players experiment. Discover the Easter eggs and tricks we've found in Death Stranding 2, or learn about the strange antics Sam can perform in hot springs.
Kojima is already linked to one movie project: a film adaptation of Death Stranding, which star Norman Reedus has expressed keen interest in leading.
