We’re rapidly approaching the launch of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and it’s shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated titles. However, Kojima Productions came close to axing the project, due to several difficult obstacles affecting both the studio and Hideo Kojima himself.

In an interview with Dexerto, Kojima described how the early days of development on Death Stranding 2 were fraught with overlapping personal and global crises. First, the studio was attempting to get work on the sequel off the ground right as the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, forcing Kojima and his team to coordinate actors while working remotely and unable to meet face-to-face. “I had all the cast decided, but during the pandemic, I thought I couldn’t pull it off,” Kojima explained.

The challenges presented by the pandemic were magnified by Kojima’s own battle with illness that made him question his future as a developer. He discussed how this combination of factors almost doomed the game altogether: “Staff were all remote… I became sick as well, I thought it was the end of the world. I’ve been creating games throughout my years, but Death Stranding 2 was the most difficult challenge yet.”

Kojima Productions managed to weather both the pandemic and Kojima’s health struggles; the experience sparked an intense determination in Kojima to finish the game. He described completing development as a “mission,” more than simply doing his job.

Death Stranding 2 launches on June 26 for PS5; preordering the game grants two days of early access. For more, check out our overview of Death Stranding 2’s story, collector’s edition, cast, and gameplay.