•Legendary game designer Hideo Kojima has joined a growing chorus of artists defending Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s latest film, Digger, likening it to one of his own controversial works.
The creator of the Metal Gear and Death Stranding series posted a lengthy message on X detailing his thoughts on the film, offering “nothing less than praise” for Iñárritu’s latest. “Digger is a film that all of us living in today’s world should see. It is a work that remains with the audience, provoking reflection and sounding alarms,” Kojima wrote.
The endorsement goes beyond social media alone: Gizmodo Japan has published an interview featuring Kojima and Iñárritu in conversation with one another, where the two artists discovered a “unexpected thread” connecting their work.
In 2001, I made a game called Metal Gear Solid 2. At that time, social media didn’t exist yet, but I created a story where social media had a kind of life of its own. That has now become a reality, and it’s the same with Digger.
Hideo Kojima
Kojima noted that both Digger and Metal Gear Solid 2 share thematic elements revolving around the proliferation of social media and how it can be used to alter reality perception by those in power. Iñárritu added: “We are living in a new reality imposed upon us by things we cannot actually experience. And I think we share that feeling. It’s scary, isn’t it? Really scary. It’s terrifying.”
While not directly discussed in the interview, Digger and Metal Gear Solid 2 are remarkably alike in how they subvert audience expectations. Trailers for the film have made it seem like a Dr. Strangelove-esque comedy of errors about the end of the world. While that element is partially present, the big reveal early in the film’s runtime shows this story is actually a play being put on.
By pulling the rug out from under viewers, Digger reframes itself as something entirely different—less a straightforward tale about environmentalism and the absurdity of ruling systems, and more a commentary on the value of art in a world that often seems hopeless.
Metal Gear Solid 2 features one of gaming’s most famous misdirections. While players take on the role of Solid Snake during the game’s opening mission, they are soon forced to assume the role of newcomer Raiden. From there, the story continues to deal with fabrications and lies, constantly upending what audiences believe they know.
Both narrative tricks—rooted in Brechtian theater—advance larger themes about environmentalism and the fragility of how reality is perceived. Ultimately, both works push against the social media bubble that Kojima and Iñárritu discuss, requiring discussion to fully unpack.
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