Legendary video game developer Hideo Kojima hasn’t made a secret about being gravely ill during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he worried that he would never finish another project. Kojima is still thinking about his mortality even after his recovery. However, he doesn’t believe that Kojima Productions would survive if he instructs his successors to keep making games exactly the way he does.

“I am not going to pass the baton to anyone,” Kojima told British GQ. “I will rather crush the baton… [Laughs] I don’t need to give ‘Hideo Kojima’ to anyone. If I pass the baton to my staff and tell them to make things the same way I do, the company will not succeed and will go out of business.”

When asked to elaborate on his statement, Kojima explained that creators who are inspired by him “received my small fire” and aren’t trying to be exactly like him. He’s happy to have influenced so many, but not eager to see anyone try to copy him exactly.

Earlier this year, Kojima disclosed that he filled a USB stick full of his ideas for video games to be used after his death. He referred to it as his “will,” and stated that he would rather Kojima Productions continue making new games and new ideas rather than simply repeating the ones he’s already made.

Kojima’s next game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, will be released on PlayStation 5 on June 26. His other upcoming titles include the Xbox-exclusive OD and the spy-action game Physint. Kojima is also involved with the A24 Death Stranding movie, and he has expressed interest in directing his own original film.

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