Some say to keep politics out of gaming. Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima just laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
The entire premise of Death Stranding is that we are connected, everyone, in intricate ways. The internet and information technology amplifies that connection to unheard-of levels, which is a blessing and a curse. Where the beauty in life is shared, so is the tragedy and struggles, and that’s something that Kojima-san made sure to keep at the forefront of his entire creative process
Speaking with BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat, Kojima-san mentioned “We may be connected through the internet more than ever, but what’s happening is that people are attacking each other because we’re so connected,” he tells gaming report Steffan Powell. That connection, according to Kojima, is why Death Stranding seeks to push people to think about the connection.
“President Trump right now is building a wall. Then you have Brexit, where the UK is trying to leave, there are lots of walls and people thinking only about themselves in the world. The era of today is about individualism,” something that Death Stranding in itself apparently wants to reject.
On that note, Kojima also added that the vision came from loneliness, including the loneliness sometimes seen in the gaming community: “Even though they’re having fun with others outside when they are alone and playing video games in their living room they don’t feel like they fit into society or their community. So when those people play this game they realize people like them exist all over the world. Knowing that even though I’m lonely, there are other people like me makes them feel at ease, that’s what I would like for them to feel when playing the game.”
Now before someone groans about politics in gaming, a quick look at the history of Kojima titles will prove that this is absolutely nothing new. Metal Gear Solid was purely political, but still housed and enjoyable experience that is iconic even in today’s gaming climate.
Kojima-san has always been wildly creative, something that makes his eccentricities incredibly appealing and engaging. Whether you agree or not with what’s going on in today’s world, it’s interesting to get this sort of insight into his motivating factors behind such a passionate title.
Players will be able to build those bridges themselves when Death Stranding arrives on PlayStation 4 on November 8th with a PC launch slated for Summer 2020.
H/T Resetera
