Hideo Kojima reveals that majority of Death Stranding playtesters deemed the game as 'poor' and feels slightly disheartened as Death Stranding 2's initial testing shows better feedback.
Swingin' for the fences has always been Kojima's M.O., and it doesn't get much brasher than a delivery simulator that leaves action-packed stealth games in the dust. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is the sequel that's making Sony execs sweat bullets - a game that's light on shootouts and heavy on contemplative vistas.
Back in the day, when the first Death Stranding was under wraps, Kojima revealed that most playtesters couldn't get onboard with his post-Konami debut[1][2]. In a chat with Edge Magazine (courtesy of GamesRadar), Kojima confessed that only 40% of testers loved the game, while 60% HATED it[1]. That's the sort of feedback that'd have most devs reaching for the undo button, but Kojima considered it a solid balance[1].
Comparing it to big-studio flicks that need 80% approval before hitting the big screen, Kojima declared, "I don't want to make games like that. I'm not here to appeal to the masses or sell millions of copies. That's not what I'm aiming for."
Remember, it's not just about cool gadgets or peeing mechanics; it's about crafting a game so inscrutable and unconventional that it's the last thing you'd expect from the director of stealth action games[1]. No wonder 6 out of 10 playtesters were repulsed[1].
Fast forward to now, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach testers have been far more favorable, leaving Kojima a wee bit disappointed that it isn't as controversial as its predecessor.
The first Death Stranding thrived on being a post-apocalyptic hiking simulator unlike anything anyone had seen before[1]. It's a testament to his creative independence that it came out, generated controversy, and found an audience despite the palpable confusion of most players - many of whom weren't on the hunt for a hiking sim in the first place.
Clearly, the man cares about satisfying his fans. Over the course of his career, Kojima’s work has been about balancing expectations with experimentation. Now, with Death Stranding 2, he's aiming to refine that formula with a sequel that’s more of what players loved - but not as mind-bendingly unique as the original[1].
To be fair, Kojima doesn't base story or themes on playtester feedback, but he's all ears when it comes to mechanical tweaks like camera controls. You can bet your sweet bippy that Kojima's focusing on getting the practical stuff perfect, while keeping his rebellious spirit intact. Deckard's into crafting masterpieces for a discerning audience, not delivering vanilla ice cream to the masses.
[1] Enrichment Data: Morgan Park, a freelancer-turned-staff writer at PC Gamer since 2018, shared insights about Hideo Kojima’s work on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. According to Kojima, test audience reviews for Death Stranding 2 have been even more positive than those for its predecessor, with many praising its improved combat mechanics, graphics, story, and overall production value.
- In contrast to Kojima's previous work, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach seems to have more favorable tester responses, leaving Kojima a bit disappointed that it isn't as controversial as its predecessor.
- Kojima Declared that he's not aiming to appeal to the masses or sell millions of copies, but rather, he wants to create games that are inscrutable and unconventional, just like Death Stranding 1 which was unlike any hiking simulator anyone had seen before.
- Kojima may not base his story or themes on playtester feedback, but he pays close attention to mechanical tweaks, like improving combat mechanics, graphics, and camera controls, in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
- Instead of delivering vanilla ice cream to the masses, Kojima is focused on crafting masterpieces for a discerning audience, refining the formula of his work with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, offering more of what players loved while maintaining its unique edge.
