Hideo Kojima explains why he only plays roughly “one game a year”

Despite being a renowned video game designer, Hideo Kojima has claimed that he doesn’t really play games all too often.

As one of the most influential figures in the gaming industry, Hideo Kojima has made a lasting impact through his innovation and creativity, inspiring many in the process. 

Over the years, he has been praised for his ability to blend cinematic storytelling with immersive gameplay, among other achievements. Thus, it’s only natural to wonder where he draws inspiration from.

Speaking at a conference The Rolling Stone attended, Kojima opened up about the things that he uses as sources of inspiration for game development. Surprisingly, this topic eventually led to him suggesting he’s not as much of a ‘gamer’ as you’d think.

Hideo Kojima claims he doesn’t play video games much

During the interview at the New Global Sport Conference, Kojima estimated that he only plays one game a year, even though he’s known as a successful creator himself, having worked on titles such as Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding in his career.

“I don’t play games so much. I watch movies, read books, meet people, and go to museums, and I’m not copying anything from a game.”

According to him, this habit isn’t exactly unusual among creators. “And there are a lot of game creators just watching other games,” he said.

Kojima then explained that, as creators, “We should think outside the box and be stimulated by things all around us.”

He added,  “Games take a lot of time, and I probably just play maybe one game a year.” To him, there’s something way more important than just spending time playing, and that’s essentially “what’s happening outside.”

“I play my games by checking, but I have to think outside the box, and what’s happening outside the game world is more important to me to incorporate into my game,” he explained.

To this day, Kojima remains dedicated to channeling his creativity and skills, with multiple upcoming projects on his plate. He has even revealed that he keeps a USB stick containing all of his ideas, which his staff can use when the time comes.