The legendary game designer will talk about his journey after breaking up with Konami and share tips with developers dreaming of independence.
Hideo Kojima has become the first confirmed keynote speaker at the GDC Festival of Gaming 2026, where he will give a lecture entitled "Starting from Zero: An Address to Creators Considering Independence." The speech will take place on March 12 in San Francisco and will be the central event of the festival, which will be held from March 9 to 13, 2026.
The organizers note that Kojima's report will be one of the key points of the program. In it, the Japanese game designer will talk about ten years of independent work at Kojima Productions — from creating an office and forming a team to building a brand and releasing two major games: Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
According to the press release, the speech will include not only a retrospective, but also practical advice for those who are thinking about creating their own studio. Kojima will share personal observations on team building, managing the creative process, and maintaining brand identity in the face of increasing market pressure.
GDC President Nina Brown noted that Hideo Kojima is "one of the most influential creators of our time, whose career embodies the spirit of courage, fearless creativity, and constant reinvention that is increasingly capturing the industry today."
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