One of the great things about games is how subjective they are. One player’s transcendent experience is another’s absolute pile of garbage. This kind of divide is true for most games to one degree or another, but it’s especially prevalent when it comes to the more artsy and auteur titles out there. A prime example of this, as many are aware, is Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding, which was quite divisive despite selling something like 20 million copies. As it turns out, it was divisive from the very beginning.

As reported by GamesRadar+, Mr. Kojima revealed in an interview with Edge Magazine some interesting details about Death Stranding’s development. The most interesting of these was that, according to Mr. Kojima, 6 out of every 10 playtesters absolutely hated Death Stranding, with the remaining 4 absolutely loving it. That ratio was apparently enough for Mr. Kojima, because he apparently disregarded that feedback and shipped the game anyway. And, well the gamble was a success considering Death Stranding’s critical reception and commercial success.

It was also reported by GamesRadar+ that playtesters are much more positive about Death Stranding 2, and that that’s apparently a little disappointing to Mr. Kojima. He apparently expressed that he wants it to be a little bit more controversial. Despite being a high-profile name, he’s apparently not interested in making mass appeal games, though he doesn’t want to make a flop either.

I absolutely respect his wanting to make new and original games since there’s a very sore lack of that at the AAA level, but I wonder if it’s really wise to be aiming to be controversial. As I’ve said in the past, I’m not really a fan of Kojima’s games. I get that the Metal Gear games are absolutely excellent to many people, and that some fans love Death Stranding to bits, but that’s just not me. I’m pretty sure the fun is there in Metal Gear, but it definitely wasn’t in Death Stranding (not for me anyway).

Anyway, a lot of people are looking forward to Death Stranding 2, and they know what to expect this time, so hopefully they get the kind of experience they’re looking for. What’s your take on Death Stranding and wanting to be controversial, though? 

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Image from the Steam page