The interesting thing about Death Stranding too — and all of Kojima's work to a degree — is that the advertising and cameos all feel like they're PART of the art of it. He, as a person, is obsessed with celebrities, Western products, and media, so these things, even when they're blatantly "products," still feel authentic because they're an extension of the creator's personality. And beyond that, he does still tell emotionally resonant stories.

I think with some of the larger, AAA titles that release yearly, you lose that feeling of authenticity—the same way you sometimes do with big budget movies. There are so many hands pulling in so many different directions that the individual's vision is lost somewhere along the way.