Hideo Kojima Shares New Details on Death Stranding 2 and His Admiration for David Lynch

In a recent interview, Hideo Kojima discussed his work on Death Stranding 2 and the influence of iconic artists on his career. Among the actors he would love to see in his games, Kojima mentioned the legendary Steve McQueen — though only as CGI, since the actor passed away in 1980. He also admitted to a long-standing admiration for director David Lynch, noting that he had dreamed of inviting him to collaborate but was “devastated” to learn of his recent passing.

Speaking about the cinematic nature of Death Stranding 2, Kojima recalled that the first game featured lengthy cutscenes and a slow start, which some players skipped. While he considers story-driven scenes crucial, this time their length was reduced even after filming to maintain a balance between gameplay and narrative.

Kojima also highlighted the key differences between film and games: in movies, every shot is meticulously planned, whereas in games, the player’s camera and actions can change how a scene is experienced. The production schedule adds another challenge — DS2 was filmed roughly one week per month over three years, forcing actors to return to the emotional state of previous scenes after long breaks. This sometimes even led to changes in character traits.

At the end of the conversation, Kojima addressed comparisons with writer Thomas Pynchon, who mentioned him positively in the novel Bleeding Edge. Both creators share a talent for blending pop culture with deeper themes and breaking genre boundaries, and Kojima expressed deep respect for the author.