Overview
- Hiroaki Yoshiike, the lead level designer, said Hideo Kojima ordered the sequel to be built so more players would finish it.
- The studio reports internal metrics that show players are getting much farther in the sequel than in the first game.
- The team scaled back early worldbuilding and added supplemental elements after feedback that the original felt slow for some players.
- Kojima said focus tests pushed him to make the writing more explicit to improve playability while keeping an experience that sticks with players.
- PC Gamer and GamesRadar+ both note that a viral Rolling Stone quote from co-composer Woodkid was taken out of context, with Kojima’s intent centered on accessibility rather than making the game stranger.