Hideo Kojima points to Death Stranding’s “just a walking simulator” reputation as an example of how social media echo chambers distort reality
Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima discusses the "reality" of social media with Digger director Alejandro González Iñárritu.
To commemorate the Japanese premiere of the dark comedy film Digger, Gizmodo Japan published a two-way interview between the film’s director Alejandro González Iñárritu and game developer (and certified cinephile) Hideo Kojima.
Talking about the broader themes of Digger, Kojima mentioned that Iñárritu’s new film reminds him of his 2001 stealth action Metal Gear Solid 2, which is often said to have “predicted” the digital society we currently live in. “Back in the day, social media didn’t exist, but I depicted a story in which social media became alive in a way. And now, that’s become our reality, and it’s the same in Digger. On social media, false information keeps amplifying, and there’s a terrifying possibility that it could end up influencing politics and our daily lives,” Kojima commented.
Iñárritu points out that the “most terrifying” thing for him is that humans are losing touch with a “shared reality.” Algorithms are dictating what content people get to see on their phones in a way that he describes as being shown only a “fragmented truth.” As an example, he mentions that the online conversations taking place around Digger are actually fueled by the stories surrounding it, not by the film itself, so even people who haven’t seen it have strong opinions about it.
Expanding on the topic, Kojima mentioned the reception of Death Stranding, known for its unique “delivery-based” gameplay loop. “People who haven’t played the game kept saying things like ‘This is just a walking simulator,’ as if they’d actually played it. The fact that this sentiment still persists is the most frightening,” Kojima commented.
According to Kojima, the loss of touch with what Iñárritu calls a “shared reality” within social media will be only amplified with AI in the mix. “People will only be exposed to the opinions they agree with and the things they like, so they won’t be able to encounter things and opinions that are completely different. That’s what I find the most frightening, and that’s why people will never run into anyone by chance either.”
Interestingly, in one of his previous interviews, Kojima said that this is one of the themes he had heavily explored in one of his most recent games, Death Stranding 2. “I have no intention to say, ‘Stop using the Internet.’ Because it’s really convenient. I also think it is because of the Internet that we were able to survive the Covid pandemic. However, I do believe it may be dangerous to get addicted to it […] What’s important about convenient technology is how you’re going to use it. My personal answer to this question is spoken through the mouths of my characters towards the end of Death Stranding 2.”
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Ironically, the people who still praise him as a “genius” (which was originally a joke to mock him) or still thinks he makes good games, are stuck in an echo chamber.
I thought he created a great game I liked that he made MG MGS more like a movie cause other games like Halo, Medal Of Honor, Call Of Duty had these heroic people but Snake and Raiden were anything but. I know it was the whole team but his vision for the game along with his colleagues make a unique game.
Sounds like a projection, maybe don’t be an echo chamber yourself there fella because now your not being entirely honest in all which is poor showmanship as a whole. Don’t be a sheep.
Yeah, they don’t represent most gamers.
Who, pray tell, represents most gamers?
Or maybe they just don’t like your new games? This dude is way too obsessed with being Hollywood-esque
Death Stranding is a human connection simulator with real life impacts. It’s absolutely beautiful and a testiment to his art and skill as an artist.
Have not played it but it totally is a walking simulator. Hideo, games get known for what is in them, MGS is still known for being a great franchise, overall. Walking Simulator is known for weird baby suit thing and walking.
Making a great game is not something many formerly great studios are good at any more, all day long it is about living in the past…remakes and re-remakes or even worse, they kill what was good in the originals.