“He only knows how to swing big”: Troy Baker on why Kojima’s games are more than entertainment
Artis Kenderik
Troy Baker, who played the villain Higgs in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (and in the first game), shared his thoughts in an interview about Hideo Kojima’s philosophy — and how it differs from most modern games. He explained that Kojima isn’t trying to simply entertain.
A lot of developers today try to entertain the player every step of the way. But there are others who say: “I’d rather the player walk away impacted than just entertained.” That requires trust. That requires faith. That requires big swings. And you risk a lot when you build a project like that — especially on this scale.
According to Baker, working with Kojima is built on mutual trust: the director trusts the actor with the role, and the actor trusts the director with the story. That’s what makes Higgs feel alive — the character works because he fits into a larger vision. Baker also noted that Kojima approaches game design the same way he did with Metal Gear — concept-driven, massive in scope, and meticulously crafted.
Hideo still makes games the way he did with Metal Gear — so conceptualized, so massive, and so thought-out that the only way he knows how to swing is big. And when you do that with trust and surround yourself with talented people — it’s something truly special.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launched on PS5 in June 2025 and arrived on PC on March 19, 2026 — currently holding a 95% positive rating on Steam. Kojima has previously said he intentionally makes games “hard to digest” — because what isn’t easily consumed tends to stay with you longer. He also explained why he made the sequel more dynamic and accessible after feedback on the first game.
Do you prefer games that leave a lasting impact — or ones that are simply fun to play? Name one in each category!
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