小島秀夫（Kojima Hideo）是日本遊戲界最具代表性的製作人之一，以極具敘事深度、電影式表現風格和對遊戲媒體的創新運用而聞名於世。代表作為《潛龍諜影》（Metal Gear）系列，自1987年以來便開創潛行類型遊戲的新篇章。這個系列在全球累積銷量超過五千萬套，是Konami歷史上最成功的IP之一，也讓小島奠定大師級的地位。

除《潛龍諜影》之外，還參與開發如《Snatcher》（一款具有賽博龐克風格的冒險遊戲）、《Policenauts》以及極具實驗性的恐怖短片遊戲《P.T.》（Playable Teaser）。其中《P.T.》原本是《Silent Hills》的預告體驗版，由小島與知名導演Guillermo del Toro合作開發，並由演員Norman Reedus主演。但該計畫最終因小島與Konami決裂而被取消，卻仍被許多玩家視為恐怖遊戲的顛峰之作。

小島與Konami的關係在2015年破裂，背後原因雖未全面公開，但業界普遍認為是因資源分配、創作自主權與公司高層經營策略的根本分歧所致。當時Konami轉型重心至行動遊戲與Pachinko等高利潤領域，而小島希望持續開發高製作成本的主機3A作品，雙方理念南轅北轍。小島於2015年底正式離職，並被禁止出席該年度的The Game Awards，引發全球玩家與業界強烈不滿。

離開Konami後，小島迅速成立獨立公司「Kojima Productions」，與索尼簽約合作，開發他離開Konami後的首款原創作品《死亡擱淺》（Death Stranding）。於2019年推出，講述人類社會崩解後，主角為「送貨人」穿越廢土重建連結的奇異旅程，融合潛行、配送、社交連結等多元素，被小島形容為一種全新類型的遊戲：「Strand Game」。儘管初期評價兩極，但最終獲得普遍好評，全球銷量截至2024年已突破一千二百萬套，並推出PC與導演剪輯版，確立小島離開Konami後仍能獨當一面的實力。

目前，小島秀夫正致力於《死亡擱淺2》（暫名：《Death Stranding 2: On the Beach》）的開發，預定於2025年由PlayStation 5獨佔推出，並再次與Guillermo del Toro、Norman Reedus、Lea Seydoux等人合作，延續其跨媒體敘事風格。同時他也與微軟的Xbox Game Studios合作代號「OD」的新作，這是結合雲端技術與恐怖敘事的實驗性作品，據傳正在與電影導演Jordan Peele密切合作，展現小島持續探索遊戲邊界的野心。

除遊戲開發，小島亦在社群媒體上十分活躍，是日本少數具備全球文化影響力的遊戲創作者。他曾表示「電影是他血液的一部分」，因此其作品中常見大量電影語言、鏡頭語法與對主題的哲學探討，也常與好萊塢導演、演員保持互動。他甚至在2022年與Amazon Audible合作推出以《死亡擱淺》世界觀為基礎的廣播劇，在日本與國際之間搭建遊戲敘事的新通道。

綜觀而言，小島秀夫從Konami時期的潛行之王，到獨立後成為實驗敘事與遊戲邊界的拓荒者，他不僅是遊戲開發者，更是跨媒體的藝術家。創作風格雖然總是引發爭議與分歧，但正因如此，卻始終屹立於全球遊戲文化最前端，持續挑戰「遊戲是什麼」的定義。

Hideo Kojima is one of the most iconic and influential figures in the Japanese gaming industry, renowned worldwide for his deep narrative storytelling, cinematic presentation style, and innovative use of the video game medium. He is best known for creating the Metal Gear series, which began in 1987 and pioneered the stealth-action genre. The franchise has sold over 50 million copies globally, making it one of Konami’s most successful IPs and solidifying Kojima’s reputation as a master game creator.

Beyond Metal Gear, Kojima was also involved in developing other notable titles such as Snatcher, a cyberpunk-themed adventure game, Policenauts, and the highly experimental horror short game P.T. (Playable Teaser). P.T. was intended as a teaser for the now-cancelled Silent Hills, a project co-developed with acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and starring actor Norman Reedus. Although the game was ultimately scrapped due to Kojima’s fallout with Konami, it remains widely regarded as one of the most terrifying and impactful horror experiences ever created.

Kojima’s relationship with Konami publicly deteriorated in 2015. While the full details were never officially disclosed, industry consensus points to deep-rooted disagreements over creative control, resource allocation, and strategic direction. Konami had begun shifting its focus toward mobile games and pachinko machines, while Kojima remained committed to producing high-budget, story-driven AAA console titles. Their conflicting visions led to Kojima’s departure at the end of 2015. He was also controversially barred from attending that year’s The Game Awards, a move that sparked widespread backlash from fans and industry peers alike.

Shortly after leaving Konami, Kojima founded his own independent studio, Kojima Productions, and partnered with Sony to develop his first original title post-Konami: Death Stranding. Released in 2019, the game presents a strange yet compelling journey through a fractured world, where the protagonist, a “porter,” must reconnect isolated communities. Combining elements of stealth, delivery logistics, and social connection, Kojima coined a new genre term for it: the “Strand Game.” Though its reception was initially polarized, the game eventually garnered widespread acclaim. By 2024, it had sold over 12 million copies worldwide, including a PC port and a Director’s Cut edition, proving Kojima’s continued relevance and creative power in the industry.

Currently, Kojima is working on Death Stranding 2 (tentatively titled Death Stranding 2: On the Beach), slated for release in 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5. The sequel will once again feature collaborations with Guillermo del Toro, Norman Reedus, and Léa Seydoux, continuing his signature cross-media narrative style. In parallel, Kojima is also developing a new experimental title with Xbox Game Studios, codenamed “OD.” The project will reportedly blend cloud technology with horror storytelling and is rumored to involve filmmaker Jordan Peele, highlighting Kojima’s ongoing ambition to push the boundaries of interactive media.

Beyond game development, Kojima is highly active on social media and is one of the few Japanese game creators with truly global cultural influence. He has often stated that “film is in his blood,” which is evident in his games through cinematic language, shot composition, and philosophical themes. Kojima regularly interacts with Hollywood actors and directors and even collaborated with Amazon Audible in 2022 to create a Death Stranding-based audio drama, establishing a new narrative bridge between Japanese and international audiences.

In summary, from his early days at Konami as the king of stealth to his current role as a boundary-pushing auteur, Hideo Kojima has proven himself not only as a game developer but also as a multidisciplinary artist. Though his works often provoke debate and division, it is precisely this daring vision that keeps him at the forefront of global gaming culture—constantly challenging the question of what games can and should be.

照片:產品官網