While Hideo Kojima’s games, like the Death Stranding series, may spark differing opinions, anyone who has engaged with them cannot ignore the distinctive approach of the legendary game designer. Actor Troy Baker, known for his role as Higgs in the series, attributes this to Kojima’s vision, which prioritizes leaving a lasting impact on players rather than just entertaining them. Baker mentioned in an interview with GamesRadar+ ahead of the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards, “It’s entertainment. But I think that there’s other people who go, I would much rather have the player walk away impacted than entertained.” This approach involves significant risk, as Baker noted, “You do put a lot in the middle when you take that kind of philosophy in making something, especially of this size and this magnitude.”
“Hideo is still making games in very much the way that he made Metal Gear, where it is so conceptualized, and so huge, and so thought out that I think the only way he knows how to swing is big,” Baker said. “And when you do that with trust, and you surround yourself with talented people – not only in the cast, but also in the crew – and you still execute that, man, it’s a miracle. Truly is a miracle.”
Although Metal Gear Solid had a mainstream appeal, Hideo Kojima fully embraced creating a distinct experience with the Death Stranding franchise, which can be challenging to get into. This aligns with Kojima’s intention, as he made adjustments during development to ensure the game was polarizing enough. The evolution of the series, particularly the second entry, has been seen as more accessible and enjoyable right from the start of Sam’s new journey through Mexico and Australia.
Looking ahead, this philosophy of prioritizing impact remains at the core of Kojima Productions. The studio is currently engaged in developing the horror project OD and returning to the stealth genre with Physint. Both projects are awaiting official release dates.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been reporting on video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack.
After joining Wccftech’s gaming section in 2015, he expanded his coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with industry figures such as Suda51, Shinji Mikami, Fumihiko Yasuda, and Keiichiro Toyama, reviews, and coverage of major industry events like Gamescom and E3.
When not reporting or reviewing, Francesco enjoys playing his favorite genres, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar, and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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