Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
Don't miss these
A screenshot shows Raiden space battle
Action Games Japanese shooter studio was skeptical of Sony's PS1, but not for the same reason as everybody else: "They've got beards"
Death Stranding 2
Action Games Hideo Kojima calls Death Stranding 2 his "masterpiece," but that's only because his "latest work" is always his best
Sam Porter Bridges flexes for the camera in Death Stranding 2
Action Games Hideo Kojima is teasing something ahead of rumored State of Play, and almost everyone's thinking the same thing
Elle Fanning in Predator: Badlands
Action Games Hideo Kojima thinks the video game-inspired Predator: Badlands would make a cool video game
Death Stranding 2
Action Games Death Stranding 2 fans certain PC port coming after cryptic Hideo Kojima post: "Didn't have much time today for editing"
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Hideo Kojima flexes as he shares Metal Gear Solid 3 collector's edition book featuring "legendary" contributors
Hideo Kojima in a screenshot from the Xbox and Bethesda 2022 showcase.
Action Games Hideo Kojima shares his nightmare about "voluptuous nude women," reanimated "decomposing bodies," and an angry coach
Death Stranding Norman Reedus and baby
Games RPG legend advises new devs to be like Hideo Kojima and create their own style – or just "have a rich daddy"
Sophia Lillis in OD
Action Games With OD and Physint in the works, Hideo Kojima says Kojima Productions is heading towards its "Third Phase"
Hideo Kojima speaking at Sydney Film Festival about Death Stranding 2
Movies Hideo Kojima has shared his favorite movies and shows of last year, and KPop Demon Hunters and Pluribus made the cut
Hideo Kojima
Super Mario Without Super Mario Bros, Hideo Kojima "probably" wouldn't have become a game dev
Hideo Kojima waving near a Sam Porter Bridges statue
Metal Gear Hideo Kojima says creativity "isn't special" and likens it to "sleeping, eating, walking, or bathing"
Hideo Kojima holds the Death Stranding harmonica to his head
Sci-Fi Movies Hideo Kojima delivers gushing verdict on Avatar: Fire and Ash, including how it will impact his future work
Death Stranding 2
Action Games Death Stranding 2 lead says Kojima Productions gambled on Horizon studio's Decima engine for "long hoped" for features
Twin snakes key art showing snake and liquid
Action Games Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes producer says Kojima and Miyamoto's secret is that they work "really f**king hard"
  1. Games

Hideo Kojima asks Twitter whether he should shave his independence beard

News
By Connor Sheridan published 21 January 2016

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Kickstarter, early access, and user-created content have given players new ways to shape games, but never before in the history of the industry has this momentous of a decision been left to a popular vote. That's right, Hideo "Punished 'Venom'" Kojima is asking you whether he should shave his Konami Independence Beard.

Should I shave?January 21, 2016

The fate of the symbolically rich facial hair, which we first saw in Kojima Productions' coming-out video with Sony's Andrew House, will now be determined. The vast majority of the first 30,000 voters favor a unilateral pardon for Kojima's beard, but with 15 hours remaining, babyfaced Hideo remains a distinct possibility.

Kojima recently embarked on a world tour of new gaming tech with PS4 lead system architect Mark Cerny. Travelling with the notoriously clean-shaven tech genius may be influencing Kojima's decision, though you can see that he was still rocking the whiskers as of his trip to Sony's mocap studio. Ultimately it's up to you, boss.

You may like
  • A screenshot shows Raiden space battle Japanese shooter studio was skeptical of Sony's PS1, but not for the same reason as everybody else: "They've got beards"
  • Death Stranding 2 Hideo Kojima calls Death Stranding 2 his "masterpiece," but that's only because his "latest work" is always his best
  • Sam Porter Bridges flexes for the camera in Death Stranding 2 Hideo Kojima is teasing something ahead of rumored State of Play, and almost everyone's thinking the same thing

Image via Hideo Kojima

Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PS4 Platforms PlayStation
Connor Sheridan
Connor Sheridan
Social Links Navigation
Former GamesRadar+ News Writer

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and was formerly a staff writer at GamesRadar+.

Read more
A screenshot shows Raiden space battle
Action Games Japanese shooter studio was skeptical of Sony's PS1, but not for the same reason as everybody else: "They've got beards"
 
 
Death Stranding 2
Action Games Hideo Kojima calls Death Stranding 2 his "masterpiece," but that's only because his "latest work" is always his best
 
 
Sam Porter Bridges flexes for the camera in Death Stranding 2
Action Games Hideo Kojima is teasing something ahead of rumored State of Play, and almost everyone's thinking the same thing
 
 
Elle Fanning in Predator: Badlands
Action Games Hideo Kojima thinks the video game-inspired Predator: Badlands would make a cool video game
 
 
Death Stranding 2
Action Games Death Stranding 2 fans certain PC port coming after cryptic Hideo Kojima post: "Didn't have much time today for editing"
 
 
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Hideo Kojima flexes as he shares Metal Gear Solid 3 collector's edition book featuring "legendary" contributors
 
 
Latest in Games
Zoomed-in, cropped box art for Pokemon FireRed shows Charizard roaring.
Pokemon "The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered in FireRed
 
 
Marathon Cryo Archive runners looting
FPS Games Marathon's Cryo Archive is locked to weekends partly because you're going to "lose a lot of gear"
 
 
Arc Raiders Queen
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders devs tortured each other during playtests, juicing Arc into Elden Ring bosses
 
 
Invincible VS screenshot showing Dupli-Kate using her abilities
Fighting Games Invincible VS director wants players to feel like "a f**king superhero," so expect matches that are a "knock-down, drag-out fight until the death"
 
 
A fox shopkeeper has a Lucky Cat figurine on the counter in Piece by Piece
Games Two indie games with the same name accidentally launched days apart, so the devs averted disaster by working together:
 
 
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy 14 boss Yoshi-P says the JRPG series is releasing games slower these days and losing younger gamers
 
 
Latest in News
Zoomed-in, cropped box art for Pokemon FireRed shows Charizard roaring.
Pokemon "The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered in FireRed
 
 
Marathon Cryo Archive runners looting
FPS Games Marathon's Cryo Archive is locked to weekends partly because you're going to "lose a lot of gear"
 
 
Arc Raiders Queen
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders devs tortured each other during playtests, juicing Arc into Elden Ring bosses
 
 
A fox shopkeeper has a Lucky Cat figurine on the counter in Piece by Piece
Games Two indie games with the same name accidentally launched days apart, so the devs averted disaster by working together:
 
 
Spider-Man Brand New Day
Marvel Movies Tom Holland compares Jon Bernthal's Punisher to RDJ's Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
 
 
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy 14 boss Yoshi-P says the JRPG series is releasing games slower these days and losing younger gamers
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Zoomed-in, cropped box art for Pokemon FireRed shows Charizard roaring.
    1
    "The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered in FireRed
  2. 2
    Marathon's Cryo Archive is locked to weekends partly because you're going to "lose a lot of gear"
  3. 3
    Arc Raiders devs tortured each other during playtests, juicing Arc into Elden Ring bosses
  4. 4
    Tom Holland compares Jon Bernthal's Punisher to RDJ's Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
  5. 5
    Two indie games with the same name accidentally launched days apart, so the devs averted disaster by working together:

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...