Hideo Kojima Doesn't Like Director's Cut Title for PS5 Version of Death Stranding - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 12 July 2021 / 1,755 Views
Hideo Kojima has revealed via Twitter he is not a fan of the Director's Cut title for the PlayStation 5 version of Death Stranding.
Kojima explained that in a movie the Director's Cut version usually means the theatrical release was shortened or had extra edits done to it that compromised the director's vision. This was not the case with Death Stranding.
He said that the PlayStation 4 release of Death Stranding was his vision. The Director's Cut was not about restoring cut content, but adding new things to the game.
"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," said Kojima.
"In the game, it is not what was cut, but what was additionally produced that was included. Delector's Plus? So, in my opinion, I don't like to call 'director's cut.'"
Death Stranding Director’s Cut will launch for the PlayStation 5 on September 24.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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How ironic. The game's director has no say on the final name of the "Director's Cut"...
Doesn't Sony own the IP?
I don't think so because Sony did not publish the game on PC. We know that they are fine with publishing their own titles on PC themselves so the fact that they did not do that with Death Stranding is strange. It is still considered a PlayStation Studios game though. Usually regardless of IP ownership the publisher will have final say over titles though.
They own the IP, the game states Death Stranding trademark is owned by Sony , but the fact that Sony through Mark Cerny actively wooed him and Death Stranding is Kojima's baby and not a first party studio product, most likely meant that either a clause in the contract allowed for a PC release, or they thought the circumstances outlined above were unique enough to allow for a one off port hence the 3rd party publisher.
What changed was Death Strandings PC success lead to Sony then deciding that with Horizon Forbidden West being due for PS5, along with HZD having run its race on PS4 and the DS PC version having made it easier and cheaper for any future Decima Engine port, this meant HZD was the perfect game to test the waters without fully committing to 1st party PS5 games on PC and while the port would be outsourced, being 1st party they would handle the publishing
I'm not sure death stranding was a asuccess. I heard it didn't sell well, hence the pc release. I hope I am wrong though, since I love and platinumed the game.
I was referring to the PC Port being a success leading to the HZD port , I have edited it to make that clearer .
https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3618626/kojima-states-death-stranding-financial-success/
Most likely a timing /communication thing where the decision was made for an enhanced PS5 version but no name was discussed and it was assumed it would be Death Stranding PS5, so in the time between marketing deciding on the title and Kojima becoming aware of it printing and other marketing may have been well underway and it was to late to change.
If I was marketing I would whether true or not reply with READ YOUR GOD DAMN EMAILS
Best of all, the concept of "director's cut" makes no sense in a videogame, since it refers to the footage deleted in a filming, which in a videogame, obviously, does not exist in most cases.
Sony's next step: Michael Jackson's Thriller - Director's Cut.
The phantom pain deserves a directors cut. That clearly was a game not finished due to time and budget restraint.
I wouldn't know, since I haven't played it. But I guess it must be a similar case to Skyward Sword, where they wanted to put in a playable Zelda, and in the end Nintendo didn't let them.
But still, even in these cases where there has been an unwanted director's version, the concept of "director's cut" doesn't make sense.This concept does not refer to "creating what is not there", but to "rearranging what is there". It is an editing concept, not a production concept.
As he points out, in a videogame you don't create surplus material (because of its cost). In any case, you create complementary material.So, if now, for example, in TLOZ:SS and MGS:V they would create more material, all this could not be a "Director's cut", in any case it would be an "Extended Version".
It does make sense not calling games director's cut haha it's not like the movies!
Should've just called definitive or goty edition
Kojima getting sony fans slightly prepared for when he makes the xbox exclusive announcement.
Well you are the director and chief of the studio so if you don`t like them use another name, like GOTY edition.
It might of been Sonys call not his.
Based on this statement, it's pretty clear he didn't have a say in how it was named
He most likely only had a say in original launch title, Death Stranding, then with Sony publishing, Sony had more of a say when it comes to re-releasing titles. Hence, Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
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