After Seeing The Division, Hideo Kojima Says He Needs To Do Better With Metal Gear Solid V

This year, Hideo Kojima came to E3 to win. In his mind, just like he “won” E3 when Metal Gear Solid 3 was shown on PS2, the intention was to do the same with Metal Gear Solid V. In fact he said the V in the game’s title stands for victory, but after seeing Ubisoft’s show-stopping The Division, Kojima realized that war had changed, and if indeed his studio was going to outshine everything else, it there would be hard work ahead.

I thought it received a good reaction, but after seeing Ubisoft’s [TomClancy's] The Division I felt I have to work harder. At E3 we’re fighting against the powerhouses of the whole world. At one time I thought I managed to win that battle with Metal Gear Solid 3. For that reason we gave ourselves the objective to “win the world once more” with Metal Gear Solid V. The V in the title is the V for victory.

Since making Metal Gear Solid 3 I always wanted to make a game about the history of this era. In addition to that, 1984 is also the title of a novel by George Orwell and Metal Gear Solid V includes Orwellian themes.

Metal Gear Solid 3 was set in 1964, Peace Walker in 1974 and Metal Gear Solid V in 1984. We’re going in increments of ten years. It’s a balance, since teenagers nowadays weren’t yet born in 1984, but it’s not too old. That said, you can expect other settings, not just Afghanistan.

Kojima, leaving his grievances and dreams of concurring the world behind, spoke of Metal Gear Solid V’s stealth mechanics.

Stealth in Metal Gear Solid V is very realistic. It’s not just a matter of following the rules of the game anymore. You can decide to just walk to your destination or ride a car. There are less sentries during the night, but you’ll be easy to spot if you turn on the headlights. Of course there are a lot more sentries during the day.

I think the definition of “real stealth simulator” is appropriate. Previously when the game was on rails players knew what to expect, because designers just put an explosion there, a collapsing wall there…It was like a haunted house.

Now weather and time will change. I wanted to make this game allowing a million of different players to play in a million of different ways.

Thanks, DualShockers.