Gabe Newell lobbied Elon Musk for Hideo Kojima and their interest in AI and space

In a recently revealed email exchange, it became clear that Gabe Newell, president of Valve, approached Elon Musk in 2018 with a request on behalf of famed game designer Hideo Kojima. The request stemmed from their shared interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and space travel. Newell asked Musk whether Kojima could get a tour of SpaceX, showing that both icons in their respective industries appreciated each other.

The context of the meeting

Hideo Kojima, known for the Metal Gear series, was at the time involved in a discussion about his game Death Stranding at Valve. During those talks, it emerged that Kojima has a deep passion for space and AI. In his book, The Creative Gene, he even stated: "If I could make just one wish in my life, it would be to go to space before I die." This shows just how strongly Kojima cherishes his desire to travel into space.

The email exchange

On Halloween 2018, Newell sent the email to Musk, saying: "Hideo Kojima (a true visionary in our field) was here at Valve to talk about his new game [Death Stranding], and he mentioned the importance he places on future work in AI... he talked about how much he wants to go to space, and I offered to introduce him to you." Musk replied shortly after, saying it would be fantastic to meet Kojima and that he would be welcome to visit the rocket factory.

Kojima's dreams and the current status

Whether Kojima actually received a tour at SpaceX is unknown. But it is clear that his desire to explore space is very real. His fascination with the cosmos goes beyond the image of a game designer; it reflects a deeply rooted longing that he has shared publicly with fans and in his work. It is striking how the worlds of gaming and technology can meet through the interests of creative figures like Kojima and Musk.