The previews for Death Stranding 2 are so good, Hideo Kojima's worried too many people will like it: "Maybe this is a problem"

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
In the run-up to Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, previews have been positive all around. For most developers, this would be excellent news, but not Hideo Kojima. He's now a little worried that perhaps what he's made isn't divisive in the way that he'd like.
He explained his feelings to Game Informer during a premiere event for Death Stranding 2. "Anything that lasts 10 years, 20 years, it has to be new. And most of those are not received well at the start," Kojima says. "That exists for 20 or 30 years, and then looked back on, with people saying 'This is great.'"
A considerable amount of entertainment at the moment is "easy to digest," Kojima argues, and in his mind, Death Stranding needed emphatic fans, thus he wanted to make something where a minority loved it, but those people became truly dedicated to it. He mentions how Metal Gear wasn't talked about much until a decade after the original.
"For Death Stranding 2, when I tested it, it wasn't like that," he admits. "Everyone liked it. That's why I said, 'Maybe this is a problem.' It was more than my prediction, in the first Death Stranding, everyone had pros and cons."
The audience dynamic he's looking for is more like four out of 10 players who are profoundly moved by the work, while the rest are unsure. This seemed closer to the truth for Death Stranding, an odd game in many respects, that some players got thoroughly into straight away, and plenty more were left a little bemused.
For Death Stranding 2, the climate is different. It seems like more people are on board from the off. When the game comes out on June 26, we'll know if players are having an easier time with it compared to its predecessors. Kojima's comments speak to a creative anxiety about creating something that lasts in the cultural lexicon, rather than being a fleeting sensation.
He's spoken openly about his desire to inspire others and leave a legacy of encouragement for anyone creative. Regardless of how On the Beach fits into that paradigm, it should spur plenty of discussion.
If Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid ever crossover, Kojima knows who should be a porter, even though they "won't be able to carry things so much"

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Forbes

38 minutes ago

• Forbes

‘KPop Demon Hunters' Arrives On Netflix With Stellar Critics' Score

Mira (voice by May Hong), Rumi (voice by Arden Cho) and Zoey (voice by Ji-young Yoo) in "KPop Demon ... More Hunters." KPop Demon Hunters premiered on Netflix Friday and it has already won over Rotten Tomatoes critics and users. A musical fantasy comedy movie produced by Sony Pictures Animation, KPop Demon Hunters is being released on the streaming service as a Netflix Original. The official summary for KPop Demon Hunters reads, 'When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.' KPop Demon Hunters stars the voices of Arden Cho as Rumi, May Hong as Mira and Ji-young Yoo as Zoe. The voice cast also includes Ahn Hyo-seop as Jinu, Kim Yunjin as Celine, Daniel Dae Kim as Healer, Ken Jeong as Bobby and Lee Byung-hun as Gwi-Ma. As of Friday, Rotten Tomatoes critics have given KPop Demon Hunters a stellar 94% 'fresh' rating based on 17 reviews. In addition, the film has received an even higher rating from viewers — a 97% 'fresh' Popcornmeter score based on 50-plus verified user ratings. RT's Critics Consensus and audience summary are still pending. What Are Individual Critics Saying About 'KPop Demon Hunters'? Toussaint Egan of IGN Movies is among the critics on RT who give KPop Demon Hunters a fresh rating, noting that the film is 'a terrific directorial debut for animator Maggie Kang and yet another feather in Sony Pictures Animation's well-plumed cap.' Isaiah Colbert also gives the film a 'fresh' rating on RT, writing, 'With high-energy fight sequences and moments of genuine hilarity, KPop Demon Hunters never loses sight of the magic that makes animation and idol culture so irresistibly fun.' Jeff Ewing of Collider also gives KPop Demon Hunters a 'fresh' review on RT, writing, 'It's a beautifully bonkers fantasy premise that works, thanks to gorgeous animation and choreography, fun lore, a set of talented voice performances, and catchy tunes.' Ryan Guar of Discussing Film also sings high praises of the film on RT, writing,' KPop Demon Hunters delivers on being one of the most visually interesting movies of 2025. Sony Pictures Animation is the best animation studio in the West right now, and even their narratively flawed films like this one are still exhilarating to watch.' As of this publication, only one RT critic — Mark Dujsik of Mark Reviews Movies — gave KPop Demon Hunters a 'rotten' review, writing, '[In] its quest to be about something 'real,' the movie loses its sense of genuine fun.' Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, KPop Demon Hunters is new on Netflix.

Yahoo

2 hours ago

• Yahoo

Danny Boyle admits he couldn't make 'Slumdog Millionaire' today because of cultural appropriation concerns

English director Danny Boyle said that he would not direct "Slumdog Millionaire" if it was made today due to "cultural appropriation" and would rather have a "young Indian filmmaker" make it instead. "We wouldn't be able to make that now. And that's how it should be. It's time to reflect on all that. We have to look at the cultural baggage we carry and the mark that we've left on the world... At the time it felt radical," Boyle told The Guardian. 'Snow White' Becomes Disney's Worst-performing Live-action Remake In Nearly 10 Years Set in India, the movie tells the story of Jamal, a young "slumdog" who's been selected to appear on the country's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", and hopes to also find his childhood lost love, Latika. Throughout his appearance, events from his tumultuous life are shown in flashback and help him answer the questions. Released in 2008, "Slumdog Millionaire" was a hit with audiences and critics, grossing nearly $380 million on a $15 million budget and winning eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Director for Boyle. Denzel Washington Shuts Down Reports He Bailed On Cannes Film Festival After Red Carpet Incident Read On The Fox News App However, despite its success, the movie was controversial for appearing to exploit Indian culture and portray stereotypes of India from a western perspective. Some Indian critics enjoyed the movie, but some Indian artists were underwhelmed, claiming it was "saturated with stereotyped images of India," TIME magazine reported. Boyle added that while the film was in production over 15 years ago, he was sensitive to the exploitative implications of making the movie as a foreigner then. "We made the decision that only a handful of us would go to Mumbai. We'd work with a big Indian crew and try to make a film within the culture. But you're still an outsider. It's still a flawed method. That kind of cultural appropriation might be sanctioned at certain times," Boyle told The Guardian. He went on to say, "But at other times it cannot be. I mean, I'm proud of the film, but you wouldn't even contemplate doing something like that today. It wouldn't even get financed. Even if I was involved, I'd be looking for a young Indian filmmaker to shoot it." Boyle's other notable movies include "Trainspotting," "Steve Jobs," "127 Hours" and the "28 Days Later" horror series. The latest, "28 Years Later", was released on Friday. Boyle nor his representatives immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Click Here To Read More On Fox NewsOriginal article source: Danny Boyle admits he couldn't make 'Slumdog Millionaire' today because of cultural appropriation concerns

Bloomberg

3 hours ago

• Bloomberg

Mott 32's Chinese Cuisine Shines in the Dark in Hong Kong: Review

In a foodie city, it's tough to pick the restaurant — the one that holds a global reputation, that tourists flock to and that industry execs associate with Hong Kong. I might start a firestorm by saying this, but perhaps the one that comes closest is Mott 32. Founded in 2014 at the height of Hong Kong's boom times, the restaurant — located in a former bank vault and designed by Joyce Wang — has retained its magic. It's since become a culinary ambassador for Hong Kong, expanding to eight other locations as far afield as Dubai, Las Vegas and Toronto, and riding a wave of awards and accolades. It's not hard to see why: The food is familiar, delicious Chinese fare but with a unique twist; the service is prompt and well-oiled; and the interior design is immersive — a mix between a film noir set and restaurant.