By Scott McCrae
Skip to main content
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Search GamesRadar+
View Profile
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
Tabletop Gaming
Toys & Collectibles
Retro Gamer
Newsletters
Total Film
Summer Game Fest
New games for 2025
Upcoming Switch 2 games
Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Action Games
Death Stranding 2 was written before the pandemic, but illness and isolation had a heavy impact on Hideo Kojima and pushed him toward games that “don’t already exist in the world”
Action Games
The previews for Death Stranding 2 are so good, Hideo Kojima’s worried too many people will like it: “Maybe this is a problem”
Open World Games
Hideo Kojima compares Death Stranding 2 to the East India Company: “It’s represented by the prevalence of weapons”
Action Games
Death Stranding 2 devs worried it was “getting a little Metal Gear-ish,” but Hideo Kojima himself says you don’t have to be sneaky: “I don’t even use stealth myself”
Action Games
Death Stranding 2 will “allow players that want to fight to do so more freely,” Hideo Kojima says, like how Metal Gear Solid 2 “made it a little easier to use weapons”
Open World Games
Death Stranding 2 is Hideo Kojima’s answer to James Cameron’s Alien sequel: “We’ve introduced battles to give it this new dimension”
Action Games
Hideo Kojima doesn’t really listen to feedback when it comes to Death Stranding or Metal Gear Solid’s stories: “I’m not interested in making something that appeals to everyone”
Action Games
Death Stranding 2
Hideo Kojima says he “kind of hates” the AI assistant in his phone, which is why Death Stranding 2’s message is that people shouldn’t just rely on technology
Scott McCrae
1 July 2025
“I have no intention to say, ‘Stop using the Internet.’ Because it’s really convenient… However, I do believe it may be dangerous to get addicted to it”
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sony)
Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2’s core message is that humans shouldn’t allow AI and the internet to dictate their lives.
Kojima loves to put a lot of themes into his games, while Metal Gear Solid 2 can be read as a straightforward spy thriller, it’s also a game with a heap of prescient themes about social engineering, meme culture, and pretty much predicted everything about the internet in the decades to come – from fake news, echo chambers, and the prevalence of AI bots. And while not as out there as the second (but technically fourth) Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding 2 has some things to say too, which Kojima has elaborated on.
Speaking to Denfaminicogamer (translated via Automaton and machine translation) Kojima was asked about Death Stranding 2’s mantra of “should we have connected?” However, Kojima explained that connection isn’t the problem; rather, it’s the overuse of these tools that leads to people making their decisions based on algorithms. “It’s not that I’m trying to say that technology is bad,” Kojima says, adding, “the AI assistant in my phone tries to suggest me a lot of different things – personally, I kind of hate that.”
You may like
Death Stranding 2 was written before the pandemic, but illness and isolation had a heavy impact on Hideo Kojima and pushed him toward games that “don’t already exist in the world”
The previews for Death Stranding 2 are so good, Hideo Kojima’s worried too many people will like it: “Maybe this is a problem”
Hideo Kojima compares Death Stranding 2 to the East India Company: “It’s represented by the prevalence of weapons”
Kojima explains, “I believe humans need ‘coincidence’ in their lives. You wake up in the morning, you go to school, you go to work, and on your way, you enter a café you stumbled upon by chance. Or you meet someone new by chance.” Kojima feels these are the things that make people’s lives, and that pre-determined algorithmic decisions can’t replicate the human experience.
Of course, Kojima isn’t a technophobe: “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.” And considering a MIT study recently found that overuse of ChatGPT may be eroding critical thinking skills, it’s hard to argue with Kojima there.
If you’ve beaten Kojima’s latest and were a little lost with the long monolgues, you can check out our guide to Death Stranding 2’s ending explained. Or if you’re still not sold, check out our Death Stranding 2 review.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
See more PS5 News
Hideo Kojima
PlayStation
Scott McCrae
Social Links Navigation
Contributor
Scott has been freelancing for over three years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He’s typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Death Stranding 2 was written before the pandemic, but illness and isolation had a heavy impact on Hideo Kojima and pushed him toward games that “don’t already exist in the world”
The previews for Death Stranding 2 are so good, Hideo Kojima’s worried too many people will like it: “Maybe this is a problem”
Hideo Kojima compares Death Stranding 2 to the East India Company: “It’s represented by the prevalence of weapons”
Death Stranding 2 devs worried it was “getting a little Metal Gear-ish,” but Hideo Kojima himself says you don’t have to be sneaky: “I don’t even use stealth myself”
Death Stranding 2 will “allow players that want to fight to do so more freely,” Hideo Kojima says, like how Metal Gear Solid 2 “made it a little easier to use weapons”
Death Stranding 2 is Hideo Kojima’s answer to James Cameron’s Alien sequel: “We’ve introduced battles to give it this new dimension”
Latest in Action Games
GTA veteran says game releases seem “more stressful” now than during the PS2 era, because “not knowing whether you can fix everything in the day-1 patch seems terrifying”
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake rumors get even more fuel as Ubisoft France posts about the original game following a blatant hint from Edward Kenway’s actor
“I’m so glad we never gave up on making this game”: Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima celebrates his latest hit’s launch with its stars, says “I won’t let go again”
How many Episodes are in Death Stranding 2?
Death Stranding 2 is taking its On the Beach subtitle seriously as players think its map screen could be making some PS5s overheat
Hideo Kojima admits references to himself in Death Stranding 2 are all his own doing, even if it “might cause certain people to cringe hard”
Latest in News
M3GAN 3 looks unlikely after new sequel M3GAN 2.0 malfunctions at box office
Asus gave my favorite gaming keyboard a makeover, and I’m 90% happy with the result
GTA veteran says game releases seem “more stressful” now than during the PS2 era, because “not knowing whether you can fix everything in the day-1 patch seems terrifying”
New Fantastic Four concept art post unveils our best look yet at the Baxter Building – and Marvel fans think they might prefer it to the comic version
Borderlands 4 includes a feature the series should have had from the beginning: a Claptrap-only volume slider that means you never have to hear a word he says
An MCU-style Squid Game cinematic universe graphic has gone viral, but it’s actually a really obvious fake
GAME REVIEWS
MOVIE REVIEWS
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: “This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse”
Rematch review: “As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic”
Tron: Catalyst review: “Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I’m let down by a time-loop story that falls flat”
FBC: Firebreak review: “A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that’s missing far too much of what made Control special”
Dune: Awakening review: “Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter”
Jurassic World Rebirth Review: “An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber”
M3GAN 2.0 review: “A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion”
28 Years Later Review: “Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
Predator: Killer of Killers review: “Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation”
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: “Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu”
Squid Game season 3 review: “A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever”
Ironheart review: “A relic of Marvel’s content-at-all-costs era”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: “The show’s most assured run of episodes to date”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: ‘The Reality War’ is “a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: ‘Wish World’ is “an exciting and ambitious” start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision
GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Contact Future’s experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us
Review guidelines
Write for us
Accessibility Statement
Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury,
BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…