Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima has criticised risk-averse design in big-budget video games and warned that artificial intelligence could dull creative expression, while reaffirming his commitment to deeply personal, auteur-driven works.
Speaking in a self-interview for Wired’s Tech Support series, Kojima said experimentation and personal passion were essential to meaningful game design. He said players should feel “the creator’s love” throughout a game, arguing that innovation suffers when studios avoid creative risks.
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Kojima said his creative process is heavily influenced by film and research carried out independently rather than by large specialist teams. He explained that he reads books daily, watches documentaries, follows news online and still visits libraries to inform his work, adding that he personally adjusts gameplay balance, pacing and audio during development. Describing this phase, he said, “It’s a very crucial stage,” adding that few creators take such a hands-on approach.
Reflecting on Metal Gear Solid 2, often cited for its apparent foresight about the digital age, Kojima said the game was not intended to predict an AI-dominated future but to warn against one. “For MGS2, I didn’t predict AI, but rather a future I didn’t desire. Unfortunately, we are heading there,” he said.
Kojima acknowledged that AI could make daily life easier but cautioned that it risks making creative work feel less distinctive. He said that as automation spreads, “games and art are no longer considered special,” while praising independent developers for taking creative risks that large studios often avoid, describing much AAA output as “safe and tremendously boring.”
Looking ahead, Kojima also offered new hints about Physint, his PlayStation-exclusive project still in early development, suggesting it will blur the line between film and games. He said the project could involve closer collaboration with the film industry, noting, “We’re thinking of working with film people, not only in terms of cast but also staff.”