Renowned video game designer Hideo Kojima visited Australia recently to kick off his global tour for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

As president of Kojima Productions, his trip to Australia offered a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a visionary.

Kojima is renowned for game-changing titles like the original Metal Gear from 1987, which is widely credited with pioneering the stealth genre.

Interestingly, his initial ambition wasn’t to create video games at all.

He always aspired to be a film director, and when that path didn’t quite work out, Kojima eventually turned to games.

Now 61, his deep appreciation for cinema is more evident than ever, as he continues to create some of the most cinematic video games to date.

First, Kojima visited the PlayStation office in Sydney for a group media interview — we were there.

The following day, Kojima made an appearance at the Sydney Town Hall, sitting alongside iconic Australian filmmaker George Miller (known for Mad Max and Happy Feet) in front of a full house.

How Australia defined the setting for Death Stranding 2

Thanks to PlayStation Australia, I had the chance to send questions to Kojima and participate in a media interview session where he responded through an interpreter, who was outstanding.

Kojima’s love for Australia is on show in the soon-to-be-released video game Death Stranding 2, with the entire game set down under. 

While he also considered Africa, he ultimately concluded that Australia would be a “perfect fit” due to its great environment and unique flora and fauna — where else can you find adorable koalas and kangaroos? 

Traditonally Kojima conducts in-person location scouting and scanning before finalising a setting for a game. But he says the pandemic restrictions prevented him from visiting Australia when pre-production for Death Stranding 2 began.

He expressed disappointment about this, noting that being physically present in a location provides a “totally different” perspective compared to viewing it remotely through a camera. 

That said, Kojima managed to get someone on the ground to capture our country and ultimately chose to set the bulk of his new game here. 

A Fondness for Aussie Animals

New to the world of Death Stranding is animals. The first game was rather desolate in the animal department — apart from some birds and a deer. This time Kojima is not just adding wildlife to the game, they’re all Australian species.

Kojima shared his strong affection for Aussie animals, describing them as “very unique.”

He compared the likes of the kangaroo, with its large pouch, to that of a Bridge Baby, or BB — a baby in a capsule that can detect otherworldly beings.

His koala impression also had us all chuckling. 

In fact, prior to the panel discussion at Sydney Town Hall, Kojima revealed he had spent the day at Sydney Zoo. 

It’s at the zoo he also learned that one of the new critters that features in the game he’s accidentally placed in the wrong environment. Oops! 

Given how far from reality Death Stranding is, I’m sure it won’t be obvious. 

The “Disease” of Imagination

For Kojima, creativity isn’t confined to work hours or studio spaces. 

“I’m imagining things all the time,” he explained. 

“Even when I travel, I’m not working, but in my head, I’m always kind of thinking.” 

This continuous state of imagination has been a part of him since childhood. He even recalled a teacher once suggesting that if he ceased imagining, his academic grades would improve.

Still, Kojima, being the visionary he is, regarded his imaginative nature as a gift. 

“I’m happy to be in this job because I’m free to imagine wherever I want,” he said. 

This relentless imagination has cemented his status as one of the most distinctive voices in video game design. 

It’s evident in how he transforms seemingly mundane concepts, such as walking and delivery missions, into intricate narrative experiences. 

Kojima says while he could make a Call of Duty type game for the Death Stranding sequel, he “doesn’t need to do that.”

For him, game development transcends mere entertainment, aiming instead to craft worlds that provoke thought and reflection — he could speak to the topic for hours.

Kojima even describes his creative method as almost compulsive — a “disease” of constant mental exploration that transforms everyday experiences into potential game mechanics and narrative threads. 

Interestingly, he believes George Miller shares this same “disease.”

A Meeting of Minds: Kojima and Miller

A significant highlight of Kojima’s time in Sydney was undoubtedly the Sydney Film Festival event: Hideo Kojima and George Miller in Conversation. 

Kojima expressed immense admiration for Miller, referring to him as “his god” and “master,” idealising his life’s work and his profound love for films like Mad Max.

As technology advanced, Kojima was determined to feature Miller in one of his games, motivated not just by professional collaboration but also by the opportunity to “spend more time” with the esteemed director.

Kojima highlighted Miller’s appearance in the game by showing the audience an exclusive clip of Miller from Death Stranding 2, alongside photos of Miller in costume for when he was scanned into the game. 

This was also the first time he saw himself in video game form. 

Miller portrays the character Tarman, and while he doesn’t lend his voice to the character, his likeness is on show.

He’s not the only Australian talent featured; Kojima also revealed that the Philippou twins, directors of Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, will also make an appearance in the game.

The young directors were seated in the audience at the Town Hall and were applauded for their part in the game. 

Now 80, Miller agrees he’s no gamer, but he does recall memories of playing classics like Sonic the Hedgehog with his daughter and understands the impact video games have on the world. 

Though Miller admits he doesn’t quite understand all of the technology behind creating games like Kojima’s, his admiration for the game director was mirrored and the two made for an inspiring discussion.

The Kojima world tour continues, with upcoming stops in Tokyo, followed by Paris and London. 

For Aussie fans, there’s more to look forward to: Kojima will be bringing the Death Stranding orchestral performance back to Sydney later this year (though it’s nearly sold out).

Kojima’s visit undoubtedly left a lasting impression, showcasing not only his creative genius but also his genuine passion for storytelling and the boundless possibilities of imagination.

Fans won’t have to wait long to dive into Kojima’s Australiana open-world RPG, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is coming to PlayStation 5 on June 26.