Hideo Kojima Pulls Out of GDC 2026 Keynote Appearance

The renowned game creator will no longer be delivering the keynote speech at the upcoming Game Developers Conference.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Hideo Kojima, the acclaimed creator behind the Metal Gear and Death Stranding franchises, has announced that he will not be attending the 2026 Game Developers Conference (GDC) as the previously announced keynote speaker. Kojima Productions cited unspecified reasons for his absence, though they noted that other team members will still be participating in the event.

Why it matters

Kojima's keynote address was highly anticipated, as it would have marked GDC's return to featuring prominent industry figures as keynote speakers for the first time in five years. Kojima's experiences in founding an independent studio after leaving Konami were expected to provide valuable insights for other creators.

The details

Hideo Kojima was originally selected by GDC to deliver the keynote speech titled "Starting Over From Zero: A Message to Creators Considering Independence." The talk was set to cover Kojima's journey in establishing Kojima Productions and developing projects like Death Stranding after departing Konami in 2015. However, Kojima Productions has now announced that Kojima will no longer be able to attend the conference in person.

  • Hideo Kojima was announced as the GDC 2026 keynote speaker in December 2025.
  • Kojima Productions posted the announcement about Kojima's absence on February 6, 2026.
  • The GDC 2026 conference is scheduled to take place from March 9-13, 2026 in San Francisco.

The players

Hideo Kojima

A renowned game creator best known for the Metal Gear and Death Stranding franchises. He founded Kojima Productions in 2015 after leaving Konami.

Kojima Productions

The independent game development studio founded by Hideo Kojima in 2015.

GDC

The Game Developers Conference, a major annual event for the video game industry.

Nina Brown

The President of GDC, who cited Kojima as one of the most influential creators in the industry when announcing his selection as the keynote speaker.

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What they’re saying

“Hideo Kojima is no longer able to attend this year's GDC Festival of Gaming. We understand this will be disappointing news to fans and attendees who were looking forward to his talk, and we offer our deepest apologies.”

— Kojima Productions (X (formerly Twitter)

“Hideo Kojima is one of the most influential creators of our time. His journey embodies the spirit of reinvention that so many in our industry are experiencing.”

— Nina Brown, GDC President (GDC)

What’s next

While Hideo Kojima will not be delivering the keynote as planned, GDC has stated that other Kojima Productions team members will still be giving presentations at the event.

The takeaway

Hideo Kojima's absence from the GDC 2026 keynote is a disappointment, as his insights on founding an independent studio would have been highly valuable for many developers. However, Kojima Productions' continued participation in the conference suggests the studio remains committed to engaging with the broader game development community.