Hideo Kojima reveals the opposition he received from “peers, colleagues, and relatives” when he went independent

Following his departure from Konami, Hideo Kojima launched an independent career. It seems to have been a smart choice though, as he recently revealed, it wasn’t easy to convince others that it was possible.

According to his recent Tweet, his peers, colleagues, and relatives expressed doubts concerning his plan to go independent. It appears that it wasn’t that they had no faith in his abilities. Instead, it was because they held the belief that it “was impossible without the financial and organizational strength of a company.” Despite this, Kojima proved that it is “an old-fashioned way of thinking.”

The reason why I am independent and advocate a life-long career is because for me, "creating things" is no longer a job. That's why there is no retirement. Creating things is living. One more thing. In the game industry, there are very few people who have succeeded in becoming… pic.twitter.com/48v9uWOk01

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) December 16, 2023

It should be noted that Kojima wasn’t facing unanimous discouragement, and there were a few who believed in his ideas. As he explained in a 2019 interview with Time Magazine, following his departure from Konami, he felt alone. However, these feelings were dispelled when he realized he had built relationships with other creatives like Guillermo Del Toro and F. Paul Wilson. Consequently, he knew that he wasn’t alone. This experience would go on to influence Death Stranding.

Kojima has no plans to retire

In the same Tweet, Kojima declares, as he had in the past, that he has no plans to retire because for him “creating is living.” This year, he had expressed this idea on his birthday which falls on August 24. In his Tweet, he declares: there is no retirement age or retirement in my way of life.”

On August 24, I turned 60 years old and celebrated my 60th birthday. I have never thought that I would be celebrating my 60th birthday. Since I am overseas, I can't wear a Japanese traditional red vest with my family, but I found a red T-shirt by Yayoi Kusama, so I am wearing it.… pic.twitter.com/GxtXexooLN

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) August 24, 2023

He is certainly proving his claims, as he has a game called OD on the way. It is being made with Jordan Peele, and while not much is known about the project at present, the official announcement on the Kojima Productions site reveals that Xbox’s cloud gaming technology is being leveraged to create not just a new game, but rather “a new form of media.”

It’s quite fortunate for his fans that Kojima has no retirement plans, as it means we’ll be getting more eccentric experiences for a while.