Hideo Kojima says games remain his priority on his 63rd birthday

Hideo Kojima used his 63rd birthday to reaffirm that games remain at the center of his creative plans, even as he continues to receive opportunities connected to movies and other forms of entertainment. The Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator shared the update while reflecting on how much he still wants to accomplish with the time ahead of him.

In his birthday message, Kojima wrote, “I turned 63. As I get older, the things I ‘have to do’ and the things I ‘want to do’ continue to increase. At the same time, the time I ‘have to do them’ continues to decrease. I constantly need to reassess how I use my time and how I live my life. That said, once you’ve taken something on, you can’t simply put it down and walk away.”

I turned 63. As I get older, the things I “have to do” and the things I “want to do” continue to increase. At the same time, the time I “have to do them” continues to decrease. I constantly need to reassess how I use my time and how I live my life. That said, once you’ve taken… pic.twitter.com/Qz37xsDdjd

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) August 23, 2026

He followed that reflection with a clear statement about his professional direction: “While I continue to receive various opportunities and offers, I would like to remain focused on creating games.” That does not rule out future work in film, but it makes his current preference plain.

There is plenty of game work still ahead of him. Kojima joined Konami in 1986, the same year Penguin Adventure was released as the first title he worked on, making 2026 the 40th anniversary of his career in games. The end of 2025 also marked 10 years since the revived Kojima Productions began operating as an independent studio.

Kojima Productions’ next announced game is OD, a horror title being published by Microsoft Game Studios. The project was last shown at a Kojima Productions event in September 2025 and is being made with movie director Jordan Peele. Its cast includes Hunter Schafer, Udo Kier, and Sophia Lillis.

After OD, Kojima plans to release PHYSINT, a return to the stealth style associated with his earlier work. Kojima Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the project in 2024 as a “brand-new, original IP” and a “next-generation action espionage game.” A 2025 key-art and casting update confirmed that Charlee Fraser, Don Lee, and Minami Hamabe will star in the game.

Alongside those games, other projects include a Death Stranding anime and film adaptations connected to A24. For now, Kojima’s own words suggest that these game projects will remain his main creative focus.

Kojima also shared a look at the birthday celebration held by everyone at KJP.

Everyone at KJP threw a celebration for me. Thank you so much🙏🙇🏻😍🫶👍🍰🐣 pic.twitter.com/u82s2RFzYW

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) August 24, 2026

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