In a recent Variety interview that was held during Summer Game Fest 2025, Hideo Kojima opened up about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, his upcoming film collaboration with A24, and a new fashion line dropping this week.
The interview gives a rare look behind the scenes of Kojima’s creative process, including how the pandemic completely changed his approach to Death Stranding 2, which is launching on June 26.
Isolation Changed the Story
Although DS2 was originally planned before the pandemic, Kojima said he ended up rewriting a lot of it after experiencing isolation and health issues. Working remotely made things harder for him creatively, and the lack of in-person collaboration drained his usual energy.
“Remote capture made everything harder,” Kojima explained. “You lose the energy and creative synergy when you’re not in the same room.”
He said the story of Death Stranding 2 now leans more into the idea of physical connection. A direct response to the loneliness that a lot of people felt during COVID. Even performance capture was affected. Kojima explained that doing it remotely took away the spark and chemistry you get when actors work together in the same space.
There are no big tech breakthroughs in DS2 this time around, but Kojima said performance capture has seen big improvements. Facial scans and photorealistic models, especially for actors like Léa Seydoux, have come a long way since the first game. Complex scenes now combine 360° capture with real-world filming to get better results.
Kojima’s Take on Fashion and Collaboration
Kojima is also launching a new fashion line with GU on June 20. He sees fashion as another way to connect people, saying clothes can be “walking billboards” that get people talking, even if they have never played the game.
This time, he chose GU for its accessibility and quality, unlike previous collabs with high-end brands. He also emphasized that he only works with brands that actually involve him in the design process. It is all about mutual trust, not just slapping on a logo.
On the Upcoming Movie
If you are into Death Stranding and missed this before, good news: a movie is on the way. Kojima confirmed he will not be directing it himself, but he is still involved. A24 is producing, with director Michael Sarnoski leading the project. Kojima is staying on as a producer and creative guide, but says he wants to let the team handle it their own way.
If you want to get all the details, you can read the full interview over on Variety.
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