Hideo Kojima (born August 24, 1963) is a Japanese video game designer widely regarded as a pioneering auteur, known for blending cinematic storytelling with interactive gameplay. After joining Konami in 1986, he created the iconic Metal Gear franchise in 1987, which effectively founded the stealth game genre, and later directed cult classics like Snatcher and Policenauts. He founded his own studio, Kojima Productions, within Konami in 2005, and in 2014 he wowed audiences with the critically acclaimed playable teaser P.T. for the planned Silent Hills, though Konami cancelled the project in 2015, prompting his departure. Re-establishing Kojima Productions as an independent studio in December 2015, he released the ambitious Death Stranding in 2019 and its sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, in 2025. His unique style was shaped by a childhood immersed in film and literature, as well as the profound impact of his father's death when he was 13, which continues to influence his narrative-driven works.