Kojima takes umbrage with the term ‘Director’s Cut’ for Death Stranding

‘Director’s Plus?’

So there are any number of terms to denote a “bonus” edition of a video game. “Super,” “Ultimate,” “GOTY Edition,” “Ultimate Evil Edition,” “Fire Fades Edition,” “Director’s Cut.” The list goes on. About that last one!

Following the reveal of the Death Stranding: Director’s Cut version that’s slated for September 24, creator Hideo Kojima had a few things to dish out about the nomenclature. Namely, he has an issue with the term itself.

Here’s what Kojima has to say on the matter:

“A director’s cut in a movie is an additional edit to a shortened version that was either released reluctantly because the director did not have the right to edit it, or because the running time had to be shortened. In the game, it is not what was cut, but what was additionally produced that was included. [Director’s] Plus? So, in my opinion, I don’t like to call ‘director’s cut’.”

He’s right, you know! As a film buff, it must pain Kojima to see this terminology taken wholesale from the movie industry and transplanted into games in an incorrect manner. Will this impact, oh, 99.9% of the player base, or basically anyone but Kojima? Absolutely not, and I suspect most people will probably call it pedantic.

But I think there’s something very interesting about the relationship between creators and publishers afoot here; and even more intriguing that Kojima did not have “final cut” on the Director’s Cut term. In any case, he was extremely polite about it and disagreed amicably.

I think everyone can agree that it would be great to get a “Metal Gear Solid V: Kojima Cut” at some point, though. Maybe if the leadership changes, and the people at the top aren’t as soured on the legendary director/producer, Kojima can come in and do some freelance work. A man can dream.

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A director's cut in a movie is an additional edit to a shortened version that was either released reluctantly because the director did not have the right to edit it, or because the running time had to be shortened. pic.twitter.com/nqih9BQ6wm

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) July 12, 2021