Kojima calls Death Stranding a success

https://www.dualshockers.com/hideo-kojima-death-stranding-break-even-denies-ip-rumors/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Livedoor News published a new interview with Death Stranding‘s Hideo Kojima on May 29. The interview was conducted in late March 2020. Livedoor News asked Kojima to comment on the current sales numbers of Death Stranding and if the game is a success or not sales-wise. Here’s his answer.

Hideo Kojima: “We managed to get much farther than our safety line, and recovered all the development cost, so I think we can call it a “success”. The PC version will release soon too. We made enough money to prepare for Kojima Productions’ future plans. You shouldn’t worry about that.”

Later on in the interview, Livedoor News also asked Hideo Kojima about the recent rumors claiming Kojima Productions has acquired the IPs rights of P.T. and Metal Gear Solid from Konami. Here’s his answer:

Hideo Kojima: “This is 100% hoax. Unless I did get them somehow without realizing it myself (laughs).”

Oh snap! I know there were people here who believed the game was a commercial flop, but according to Kojima, the game broke even on PS4, and there's still the PC version to go. And it looks like Kojima Productions is still in great shape. Take that, Kojima haytahs!

Good, I don’t regret supporting Kojima ever

And it's not like the game won't sell more copies here on out.

I'll buy a PC version, be a nice tech demo.

Probably contracted by Sony for future exclusives. Shame he won’t have anything to do with future titles his fans actually care about.

It'll face stiff competition on the PC from Microsoft Walking Simulator. By the team behind the new flight sim. It'll require an online connection, because it'll use the cloud to let you walk anywhere on the planet. :-P

Nice. Congrats to him and his team. I really enjoy his games and I think this looks great and very intriguing.

Huh, wonder if something is lost in translation there.

Breaking even isn't much of a success lol. Then again "We managed to get much farther than our safety line" makes it sound like they did better than break even.

Too vague either way.

Anyways.

Still, MGSV made over double its money back on day 1 and SW still considers that one a commercial failure.

Maybe another random blog from a Forbes contributor will set us straight on this one as well.

No joke I'd be all over a game like that haha, sounds awesome.

I guess that means we might be seeing more strand type games.

still haven't played this. not sure I ever will

Congrats? I'm still not buying it, I had a 3 week window to actually play a game like this and instead chose to finish Control and start/finish Dishonored 2.

Happy for more experimental games in the future but Kojima's stories aren't it.

Who here ever doubted that the game won't sell? It has Kojima's name attached to it and brand sells. Also the marketing around it was insane.

Also, he said development cost. Does that mean it didn't recouped its marketing cost and just broke even?

@pc_rocks: ‘marketing cost’

I assume sony looked after the marketing as it was their console exclusive?

As weird of a game Death Stranding is (and you know I loved the game), I would consider break even a success. At least at this point they can make money on it. As for MGS V, I can see Konami not being happy unless it sold like 20 million or something lol.

Cows love their sales numbers, why?

I say it was boring shyte.

Ouch, break even?

I really loved the Metal Gear Series and Zone of the Enders so for those two IP's alone hes a legend. But this game looks boring to me. Honestly I'm curious to hear people's opinions on the game who actually played it.

Doesn't matter who bore the cost. It's still a cost.

He says they did more than break even. Impressive given how quirky the game was, it was an exclusive, and a new IP. All formidable barriers.

All that walking sounds painful:

XD

To be honest, even if you don't like the game this is good news. It wasn't a great sucess, which means he'll evaluate better the franchise or future proyects more carefully - but I don't want his studio to go bust, so at least making the money back is a good thing.

As much as I love and hate Kojima at the same time due to his wonky story-telling, I genuinely want him to succeed. He's produced some of my favourite games, but I think he needs to get out of his bubble. I own DS, and gave up a few hours in... I found it far too tedious to continue.

@HalcyonScarlet: Lmao

I'm one of those weirdos who plays games and gives not a single toss how well they sold. I must be missing that 'give a shit about shareholders who don't even like games' gene.

That's a very lukewarm success, at least based on where he is coming from (AAA development). But hey, good on him for being both modest and optimistic.

Also funny this PS4 game is going to turn profitable once it is available on PC given how the Sony fanboys reacted initially.

I am the same way. This is why I like independent games and privately-owned companies (like Valve). They make the games they want to make, which usually results in a better product. They don't need to appease suits and shareholders.

AAA development makes games for a target demographic or void based on market studies, like "oh there were only three games from this genre released last year, let's make one to fill in the gap"

DS gets a lot better around the 10 hour mark. At least for me it did lol.

This is illogical. If your favourite games don't sell well and create a dent in the pockets of the developers/publishers then they don't continue to get made, hence why sales are important.

I couldn't subject myself to that rigmarole. You could tell the production values were all there, but I just couldn't understand the need to plod multiple kilometres in order to continue the story. I just think he needs to reign in that creative side a little.

Not bad for such a divisive title.

It's not for everyone. I had felt very similar thoughts in the beginning. Having to trudge along terrain with all this shit on you, falling down, getting frustrated, etc etc Then at some point you unlock the online component, and you get the ability to build roads and ride vehicles. All of a sudden it's this very addictive loop of delivering packages lol. Then you get these other enhancements and even actual weapons that make the BT battles a lot easier. I ended up enjoying it a lot more then expected.

I'm glad it was a success but I don't see why Kojima couldn't wait for the PC version to be released and then, see if it's truly successful.

Breaking even is a success lol, I was going to say how the mighty have fallen, but he was never mighty to begin with.

I remember one of the BS lines Kallie said when she reviewed it here "its a game humanity needs right now" even with all the shilling GS and other sites did for the game it still flopped :)

Right on. Personally, I enjoyed the game.

Never understood what people saw in this game to be honest.

Though it’s good it at least broke even.

A game like that "breaking even" is a flop any way you look at it. Maybe this will make his pretentious ass realize that everyone's shit stinks.. including his own. Humility is a good lesson to learn, and hopefully that comes across in his next title.

I don't think anyone really doubted this game would sell well (well enough to break even, at least), it certainly flopped in terms of critical reception.

I'm no business major, but something tells me "breaking even" doesn't constitute success. Or at least I hope it wouldn't by any metric of a reasonable business. If you're using that as a measure to brag, then things don't smell rosy.

Well I am a business major and I can tell you breaking even in many industries and sub-markets is great success.

Lol breaking even is a success now?? Game looks horrible...

@Mozelleple112: “many industries and sub markets” aren’t the gaming industry.

By your educated opinion then, you’d qualify breaking even on a multi-million dollar investment as a great success? I don’t need to hold a business degree to know I wouldn’t.

Ha, would be a low bar for success, but sure. And yeah, of course the game still has its PC release.

To be fair, after looking back over the article, not like Kojima ever said they broke even anyways. We're all hung up on the articles title and not what was actually said. And what was said was pretty vague. Would need actual numbers to know the real deal here.

The real takeaway here is that future titles are a go. That's all I care about.

True, my thread title was misleading. Please forgive me 😩

Not on you my guy, was in the title of the article you posted lol.

Hideo Kojima Announces Death Stranding Reached Break-Even Point

Which to be fair, can definitely see that interpretation. Just not in a way that makes it seem like they only broke even. More like they've moved past that goal. Either way, can assume it wasn't a smash hit, or he wouldn't be using that language. More than likely pulled a modest profit, but nothing to brag about.

Still though. I care for a games/creators success in the sense that I'd like to see the creator make more games. And it seems we're getting that, so the details are whatever. Just want this guy to keep making games.

Its funny how success changes depending on your allegiance.

Could be he makes a stealth game after this....

Uhm I mean Tactical espionage action

It should do well on PC. Steam is no stranger to bizarre games like Death Stranding. And the COVID "social distancing" climate should make the game less confusing now than it was last year.

so I think we can call it a “success”

Basically saying ... yeah, this thing didn't sell well at all ... but at least we broke even ...

Wouldn't call breaking even a success but I'm happy that such a weird game will end up making some money. Now for the next game Kojima just needs someone who knows how to write.

lol