It’s a matter of fact: Kojima Productions has made it to a decade. That is a complete 10 years of Hideo Kojima doing … well, that is the point, Hideo Kojima is doing. But let’s face it, he usually does something weird and at the same time brilliant that we do not comprehend until about three years later. The studio acknowledged the milestone by sharing a tweet from Hideo Kojima, the founder, who also posted a throwback photo from December 16, 2015. This picture depicts Kojima with a person called Andy at the Sony offices. A genuine snapshot from a different time, you know?
For those who want it exact: Kojima Productions, the independent studio that was set up by the legendary game director Hideo Kojima after he left Konami, is ten years old now. The tweet celebrating the occasion included a throwback photo from 2015 where Kojima is with former Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Andrew House, thus the gamers, who were very much reminded of the past era of PlayStation leadership, were swept with nostalgia.
The first thing we notice in the replies is that they are a total vibe check. The vibe being … nostalgia. Deep, piercing nostalgia. One of the first comments was from @Zuby_Tech who just said, “Andrew House, I miss you!” Well, to tell the truth, that pretty much set the tone for the whole dialogue. It was not only the birthday celebration of Kojima’s studio but also the entire thing about the old guard at Sony being missed.
The participants began dropping names as if it were a reunion. @Milad_Superhero came in, calling it a “Golden area” with legendary figures like Andrew House, Shawn Layden, Shuhei Yoshida, and Jack Tretton. “These were the names who had passion and love,” they said. The audience can easily feel the longing through that line. It is as if the gamers are looking at this 2015 picture and perceiving a lost time of console wars and larger-than-life characters. @Erioni_7783 was blunt and said, “We miss so much that ‘old’ Sony…” Ouch! right in the heart.
Ironically, the actual anniversary kind of got overshadowed by the emotionally charged wave. Still, many congratulations were mixed with the sentiment. @lmTino expressed thanks to Kojima for the game Death Stranding. @VenturousGamer was like “CONGRATS, KOJIMA-SAN! BRING MORE MEMORIES!” And @monkEYdust444 noted that “Kojima does not age” which could be considered significant. Honestly, if one looks at the picture, it appears that the guy is a vampire.
The dialogue even became somewhat corporate at one point. A person asked what was the current role of Andrew House and @Zuby_Tech cited his board member profile at a company called The ExCo Group. To which @BCynical_ replied, “A massive hole has been left since he departed. Truly irreplaceable.” This is really strong! We are talking about a birthday party of a gaming studio and it transforms into a discussion about executive legacy. Only in the Kojima-verse.
And of course, one has to accept that the random chaos element must be there. @death_bee_ added, “I miss the Xbox and PS Beef.” Which, to be honest, I feel the same. Do you remember the time when the rivalry between the consoles was fun and not just a matter of which corporation had acquired another? Good old days. @TelexLTD took on the role of a fashion critic: “That v neck is so 2015.” Spot on. The whole aesthetic is like a time capsule.
But what is behind it all? Kojima Productions had to survive the first decade in the dark after the violent, public separation from Konami. They could make the new studio from scratch, settle with Sony, and introduce Death Stranding, a game that, to say the least, is an experience. And now they are preparing for … something. Probably, two somethings. The studio’s endurance and artistic freedom are the concrete proofs of Kojima’s exceptional position in the industry. He is the auteur in a territory that is increasingly devoid of them.
Yet, the reaction to this simple anniversary tweet tells a bigger story. The gamers are not just commemorating ten years of Kojima’s independence. They are subtly voicing their discontent over what they see as the major industry players losing good spirit and passion. The 2015 photo signifies a certain period —when Kojima was making himself comfortable with the Sony bigwigs that gamers were then feeling was more personal, more involved in the art. In contrast, today’s landscape is full of silent corporate entities and mega-mergers and that old “beef” looks almost cute.
