Hideo Kojima at 62: Slowing Down but Never Stopping
Hideo Kojima Says He Wants to “Take It Easy” as He Gets Older, but Plans to Keep Creating for as Long as He Lives
There’s something kind of comforting about hearing a legend like Hideo Kojima—game-making royalty behind Metal Gear and Death Stranding—talk about slowing down, but only a little. Kojima, now 62, recently shared he wants to “take it easy” as he gets older, but doesn’t plan to stop creating. In fact, he still “intends to continue creating things for as long as I live.”(GamesRadar+)
That line struck me. It's rare these days to hear someone steer away from burnout yet still commit to a lifetime of creativity. Let’s unpack what that actually means, both for him, his studio, and maybe for any of us who feel the pressure of time and still love our work.
A Creative Fire That’s Far From Burning Out
On Twitter—as real people still do—Kojima marked his 62nd birthday. He thanked fans for messages and illustrations, saying plainly: “I intend to continue creating things for as long as I live. My stance on ‘creation’ is to not overwork and to take it easy, and I will continue to give it my all even after my 60s.”(GamesRadar+) It’s that blend of “taking it easy” and “giving it my all” that feels so Kojima.
This thoughtful approach isn’t new. After battling severe illness during the pandemic—complete with surgery—he came face-to-face with mortality and realized life isn’t infinite. Since then, he's become more urgent, but also more mindful about how he works. (Diario AS, GQ)
Choosing Quality Over Quantity
Kojima isn’t just churning out games on autopilot. He admitted he’s constantly dreaming up "weirder" ideas, but financial pressures and business realities limit how many of those concepts actually become games. He even estimates that, at best, he’ll complete about three more titles in the next decade. (Polygon) That honesty about constraints in an industry obsessed with trends and risk-averse decision-making is refreshing.
Meanwhile, his small, indie studio means he’s involved in every decision—so planning ahead is vital. “I'm always thinking about the next 10 years,” he said, aware that his studio’s future depends on strategic creativity.(GamesRadar+)
Holding Onto Legacy—In a USB
In a strikingly poetic move, Kojima gave his personal assistant a USB drive loaded with his ideas—like a creative will, in case something happens to him. He worries: what happens to Kojima Productions when he’s gone? He doesn’t want it to just sit on IP; he wants creativity to continue, and that USB is a tangible way to pass that torch. (Diario AS)
Projects Still in Motion
Even as he pledges to dial things down a notch, Kojima isn’t stepping back from ambitious projects. He’s busy with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which launched in June 2025, and is working on OD—a horror game made with Jordan Peele and publishing support from Xbox. That one’s described as “avant-garde” and “totally different.”(Wikipedia)
He’s also juggling Physint, an espionage title for PlayStation, and even dabbling in film—both a Death Stranding movie and anime are in the works via A24 and other collaborators. (Diario AS, Wikipedia)
The Kojima Philosophy: Don’t Overwork, Just Create
Kojima’s not the type to retire. He’s said before, “creating things is living,” and that’s not just a turn of phrase. Since launching his independent studio in 2015, he’s embraced the indie mindset—freedom over corporate bureaucracy.(Metro, The New Yorker)
He once joked he’d “probably become an AI and stick around” because he doesn’t plan to go anywhere emotionally or creatively.(PC Gamer, GamesRadar+) It’s both cheeky and profound. He sees technology not just as a tool but as a way to extend his creative influence indefinitely.
What This Means for Games—and for Us
In an industry that often glamorizes relentless work and burnout, Kojima’s approach feels radical. It’s not “work less” or “stop.” It’s about acknowledging aging and mortality while refusing to stop creating meaningful work.
He’s quietly making a case for sustainable creativity—pace yourself, stay curious, but don’t stop. His path is both realistic and aspirational.
In Summary
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On turning 62, Kojima shared he’ll keep creating but plans to “take it easy”—balancing care with continued passion.(GamesRadar+)
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His illness during the pandemic was a real wake-up call, shaping both his output and work style. (Diario AS, GQ)
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Practical challenges mean he expects just a few more projects in the next decade.(Polygon)
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He’s safeguarding creative ideas via a USB, so the studio can carry on even without him.(Diario AS)
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Major projects like Death Stranding 2, OD, and film/TV ventures are all in progress. (Wikipedia)
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Kojima believes making games isn’t a job—it’s life. He even jokes he'll continue as an AI. (Metro, PC Gamer)