Home NewsOn its 10th anniversary, Hideo recalls founding Kojima Productions

On its 10th anniversary, Hideo recalls founding Kojima Productions

by Bruno Pferd

Key Takeaways

Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark

  • Kojima Productions, founded by Hideo Kojima, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a mission to create new worlds using advanced technology, symbolized by their unique logo blending a medieval knight and space suit.
  • The studios philosophy is rooted in the idea of Homo Ludens (playful humans), emphasizing that play is not just a pastime but the primordial base of imagination and creation. They believe that our desire to create extends beyond survival, offering hope for new evolution.
  • Kojima Productions strives to craft memorable, often unsettling experiences in their games. This design philosophy can be seen in their works like Metal Gear Solid 2, which remains one of gamings most subversive and enduring pieces.
  • Kojima adjusts game scripts to create a sense of unease or friction, believing that such experiences are more memorable and lasting than overly comfortable ones. This approach is evident in the development of Death Stranding 2.

Our favorite Goodies

Celebrating a Decade of Pioneering New Worlds: Kojima Productions’ Anniversary

On its 10th anniversary, Kojima Productions celebrates its founding by Hideo Kojima. The studio’s logo—a blend of medieval knight and space suit—embodies its ambition to forge new worlds using cutting-edge technology.

Playing Towards New Evolution: Kojima Productions’ Philosophy of Homo Ludens

Kojima Productions’ motto, “De Sapiens a Ludens” (From wise beings to players, we are playful humans), reflects its core philosophy. The studio elaborates: “From the moment we enter this world, instinctively, we invent ways to have fun and share our inventions with those around us. We are not asked to do so, nor do we need reasons to create—it’s simply who we are. We meet and compete with each other, laugh together and cry together: all of this while playing together. Our experiences unite us and set us free. To share our most valuable experiences, we create stories, invent tools, and refine the art of play. Play has been our ally since the dawn of civilization. Play is not just a pastime it’s the primordial base of imagination and creation. In fact, Homo Ludens (the one who plays) is simultaneously Homo Faber (the one who creates). Even if Earth were devoid of life and reduced to a barren wasteland, our imagination and desire to create would persist beyond mere survival, offering hope that flowers might bloom again someday. Through the invention of play, our new evolution awaits us.”

Crafting Memorable Unsettling Experiences: Kojima Productions’ Design Philosophy as Homo Ludens Evolution

Established on December 16, 2015, Kojima Productions marked its arrival with the unveiling of its symbolic logo. Hideo Kojima crafts games to be memorable, even if that means unsettling players. He has adjusted parts of the Death Stranding 2 script because playtesters enjoyed it too much. Kojima believes that experiences creating “a bit of unease or friction” are more memorable, while those that feel too comfortable fade quickly. Proof of this design philosophy can be found in Metal Gear Solid 2, released 24 years ago, which remains one of gaming’s most subversive and enduring works. As Kojima himself has stated: “We are Homo Ludens. We are those who play.”

In Case You Missed It

In other gaming news, Ahmed Hassan’s latest piece explores an intriguing development method in “Indie Creator Claims This is the First Game in the World Made Entirely with AI”. Published on December 14th, the article delves into Grolaf’s Codex Mortis, a game completed in just three months that boldly claims to be the first entirely created using artificial intelligence. From TypeScript coding to AI-generated visuals via Claude Code and ChatGPT, this game’s unconventional birth has sparked debate but also piqued curiosity. You can check out this innovative gaming experiment for yourself with its free demo on Steam – give it a try at Indie Creator Claims This is the First Game in the World Made Entirely with AI. Before you go, we couldn’t help but share some thrilling news from Sophie Laurent’s ‘A Massive Nintendo 64 Classic Preparing for Its Grand Return, Leaked’. Also published on December 14th, this blog unearths the upcoming revival of a prehistoric N64 franchise, promising a grand comeback after years in hiding. From Banjo-Kazooie to Super Smash Bros., this iconic license is set to return through Saber Interactive’s efforts. Mark your calendars for 2026 and click here A Massive Nintendo 64 Classic Preparing for Its Grand Return, Leaked to join the hype train! In an exciting turn of events, Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz is stepping into the world of espionage as Bawma in IO Interactive’s upcoming “007: First Light”, set to release on March 27. Check out Jonathan Dubinski’s latest post at Lenny Kravitz in New James Bond to witness Kravitz’s anticipation as he takes on the role of this global arms dealer and leader of the Aleph network.

On its 10th anniversary, Hideo recalls founding Kojima Productions 20171002130205 0c93c 6

Have any thoughts?

Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!

You may also like