Hideo Kojima Says He Makes Games to Give People “The Energy to Live On and Be Happy”

During his appearance at Lucca Comics 2025, legendary game creator Hideo Kojima shared a heartfelt perspective on his creative purpose, stating that his goal in making games is to give players “the energy to live on and be happy.” Kojima joined actors Luca Marinelli and Alissa Jung, who portray Neil Vana and Lucy in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, in a special panel discussion that reflected on the game’s development and emotional impact.

The event touched on various aspects of Death Stranding 2’s production, including the challenges of remote shooting during the pandemic. Yet, it was Kojima’s personal reflection on his motivations that resonated most deeply with the audience.

“I grew up watching movies or reading books. When you’re a child, you sometimes feel so dark about the world, and for me, there weren’t really good role models around. Movies helped me — the characters, the dialogues, the themes — they cheered me up and gave me energy to live on,” Kojima said. “So I want to return that. That’s one of the reasons I create games.”

He continued, explaining that his greatest fulfillment comes from knowing that his work could inspire hope or strength in others:

“If someone plays my game and years later feels like, ‘I want to live on because this game cheered me up,’ that would be the happiest thing for me. Games are immersive — people spend hundreds of hours on them. If that time helps them relieve stress or find something meaningful in their lives, then that’s my goal.”

Kojima emphasized that his stories often aim to evoke emotional growth through character connections, like those between Luca and Alissa’s characters in Death Stranding 2. “If through these relationships and the game’s story someone feels something and becomes happy in their real life, that’s what I want,” he said.

These remarks align closely with Kojima’s long-standing philosophy of merging emotional depth with interactive storytelling, a hallmark seen throughout his works from Metal Gear Solid to Death Stranding.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launched on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5, to widespread critical acclaim. Now that the rights to the franchise have reverted fully to Kojima Productions, a PC and Xbox Series X|S release is expected sometime in 2026, mirroring the cross-platform rollout of the original Death Stranding.

Kojima’s continued focus on emotional storytelling reinforces why he remains one of the industry’s most influential and visionary creators, a developer who doesn’t just build games, but seeks to inspire human connection and hope through them.

 
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