Hideo Kojima afraid that 'digital data will no longer be owned by individuals'
Hideo Kojima expressed concerns that digital data will no longer be owned by individuals, warning that access to art and media people love could suddenly be cut off. He fears a future where digital ownership is controlled by corporations, limiting personal access to creative works.
Background
- Hideo Kojima is a legendary Japanese video game director (Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding) known for cinematic, auteur-driven game design.
- He's warning about a future where people don't truly own digital media—games, movies, books, music—because they only hold licenses or streaming access, not permanent copies.
- This taps into the growing "preservation crisis" in gaming: older titles are delisted from stores, servers are shut down, and DRM (digital rights management) can make purchased content unplayable.
- Kojima is specifically concerned that art people love could "suddenly be cut off," meaning companies can revoke access at any time, erasing cultural history.
- The interview connects to broader debates around physical vs. digital ownership, game preservation, and the industry's shift toward subscription models and always-online requirements.