Death Stranding is looking to be about the most different type of game you can realistically have in the mainstream. It’s story is classic Kojima bonkers, by the look of it, and the gameplay is looking to be something that could be very divisive. But one way it’s not so different is that the game’s Creator has franchise on the mind, though his reasoning may be a tad different than you’d expect.
Hideo Kojima has said he looks at Death Stranding as a new genre, of sorts, something he himself doesn’t really understand despite being its Creator. Talking to GameSpot, Kojima says that sequels for the game are on the table for the game. “The most difficult part is, when you create something new, you have to create a sequel and then a third version or it [will] not remain as a genre,” he said.
“When this game comes out there will be a lot of pros and cons, and [these elements could become the essence of the core part], but I think it’s better that I keep it going in a sequel,” he continued. “Why I can’t say it’s definite is because I only have one body, and there’s many projects that I have to be involved with. And it’s really tough for me physically to do many things at once. Yeah, probably at least 1.5, and then 2, maybe, at least so that it remains and people are aware of the genre.”
It is true, after all. If the game is unique enough that it can be classified as its own genre, it will need constant revisiting to continue on. Kojima’s previous work, Metal Gear Solid, was somewhat similar. While there were other stealth games, as well as optional stealth elements in many action games becoming more common, Metal Gear Solid‘s continued proliferation in many ways kept the stealth genre a constant presence in gaming.
Odds are the first game will be successful, so it’s not too out there to be thinking of sequels, but for now we need to focus on Death Stranding, which releases this November.