Alright, so picture this: I’m listening to Hideo Kojima’s KOJI10 radio show — if you haven’t heard it, you’re missing out. Episode 16 just dropped, and it’s all about why “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” is coming out in June. Why June, you might wonder? I’m sitting there thinking, “What could be so special about June?”
Anyway, backtrack a second — this episode kicked off with this whole izakaya vibe, kind of like a Japanese pub hangout. Kojima starts off saying he doesn’t drink, which totally smashed my hopes of a tipsy Kojima spilling secrets — bummer, right? But that didn’t stop this cheeky listener from throwing out the question: “Hey, would a drunk you ever launch DS2 in September instead of June?” And Kojima’s like, “Dude, I’m sober!”
So, here’s the scoop, straight from Kojima’s lips. Game releases aren’t just plucked out of thin air. They’re all mapped out when the game’s still a twinkle in someone’s eye, budget and all. And get this — other games’ schedules mess with this too. Apparently, Sony’s got a lineup like a crowded sushi bar, and nobody wants a plate collision.
Kojima explained, “Sony’s got their big guns,” which, okay, I get it. Can’t have Death Stranding 2 going toe-to-toe with them. Sounds logical, or maybe it’s just industry chess. Picture Kojima moving pieces on a board, whispering, “Not today.”
And get this, Kojima Productions’ baby is being birthed by Sony – so no surprise they’re watching other games closer than I watch my cat around my snack bowl. And while he didn’t spill the beans on exact games in his chat, I did my own snooping. Turns out, Ghost of Yotei’s swooping in on October 2. Big game, right? Plus, Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater dropping August 28. It’s like a gaming traffic jam.
Kojima adds, “Games fly off the shelves in the West during October and November.” But the stars didn’t align this time — gotta bob and weave around all those other releases. Man, the industry’s a dance, not a sprint.
“June was locked ages ago,” Kojima drops casually, like it wasn’t a mic-drop moment. Pretty strict deadlines, trying to sidestep a launch bumper car situation.
Oh, and hey, he mentioned hypothetically, if GTA 6 just popped up saying “November!” every exec would scatter like pigeons. “Games aren’t quick finishes; players need months sometimes,” he says. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
Sneaking in another gem, Kojima points out game companies might suddenly yank release dates like a rug to dodge clashes. Sega did that with Like A Dragon: Pirates in Hawaii just to stay clear from Monster Hunter Wilds. I swear, it’s like a soap opera.
So here we are, pondering launch windows in May, June, then September to November. Kojima’s got it down, but it’s no simple puzzle. And marketing? Yikes, that sync’s crucial too. Imagine, all that cash down the drain if the game gets postponed. Ouch.
Oh! And if you’re kicking off a brand-new series, Kojima hints February could be your golden ticket. As long as it’s not gatecrashed by Monster Hunter types.
More thoughts stewing on Death Stranding 2 — there’s an exclusive chat with Kojima and a sneak peek after 30 hours of play. Feels like a treasure chest, right?
Verity Townsend signing off — a Japan-dwelling freelancer, game news whisperer, and cultural explorer. Also, I’m guilty of munching on too much Japanese cinema and odd snacks. It’s a life.
