Hideo Kojima on Gaming's Cinematic Future and AI's Role in Art

In a recent interview, legendary game designer Hideo Kojima shared his perspectives on the evolving landscape of interactive entertainment and its convergence with cinema. Kojima, known for groundbreaking titles like 'Metal Gear' and 'Death Stranding,' emphasized the fundamental difference in narrative consumption between games and films. While films offer a fixed, two-hour experience, games provide an interactive timeline dictated by the player. He expressed admiration for the French game 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,' noting its impressive artistic vision achieved by a small team. Kojima believes that while large-scale, blockbuster games are prevalent, there's a significant future for art-driven games created by smaller teams, potentially leveraging artificial intelligence to manage complexity while maintaining artistic integrity. Addressing the growing trend of video game adaptations, Kojima acknowledged past failures but highlighted recent successes like 'The Last of Us' series, which benefited from a serialized format. Regarding his own 'Death Stranding' film adaptation with A24, he stated that their approach would differ from a direct 50-60 hour game-to-film conversion, aiming for a unique cinematic experience that borrows the game's world and gameplay experience. Kojima underlined his role as a producer, overseeing the script and production, while allowing the chosen director creative freedom, aiming to enhance their talent rather than impose his own directorial vision. He also expressed a personal desire to direct a film in the future, once his current game projects are complete.