While we got a huge blowout of Death Stranding at E3 2018, it certainly didn’t reveal much at all. Though the themes of the game and whatever else we might encounter in this creepy world is still a mystery to us, one thing that was very apparent is star power. Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Lindsay Wagner, Lea Seydoux and Guillermo del Toro all being attached to the project might make it seem like Kojima thinks he needs them to sell the title, but that’s not the case according to a recent interview.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Kojima outright rejected that he’s using the actors to legitimize his game or gaming as a medium, and is working with people he trusts and enjoys working with for their creative energy. The energy that Kojima puts into development is compared to wholly investing your life into the project. “When you’re investing so much you don’t think about whether actors sell or whether they’re famous or they’re established.” Said Kojima.
As far as the energy the actors bring to the project, Kojima would say that it’s like creating the game together with them, with them able to contribute ideas that would be lost if he was just creating his singular vision. “I’ve been making games for 32 years and the technology now means I can create whatever I can think of with 100% validity. But that’s not interesting because it has no analog element, it has no organic, living element. For example, if I had Norman here I might say I want him sitting in this chair and he’ll say, no, I think it would be better if I sit over here. And I’ll be, right, let’s see what comes out of it”.
Gamingbolt will be the first to let you know when we actually see a release date for Death Stranding, so keep it locked right here.