Is Hideo Kojima Commenting On Video Games Becoming Too Easy?

The Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will come with a chicken hat that will make the game easier, according to Kotaku.

Hideo Kojima announced the fowl-inspired headwear on a special Christmas day stream. The hat won't be in your inventory at the start of the game. But it will be made available if you are spotted or die too much.

The hat will delay the guard's reaction to Snake's presence. It will glow in the dark, which is something that your enemies will not perceive, and mock the player's desire to simplify the game.

This addition could be a commentary on the industry's trend toward developing easier games. Titles have become easier in recent years: Games like L.A Noire made it possible for players to skip certain action sequences in favor of advancing the story.

In addition, the Fable franchise has made dying inconsequential; you fall down, then get up and resume fighting as if nothing happened.

"Across consoles, genres, and mechanics, games have gone soft," Kotaku states. "With few exceptions, games offer less resistance to serious players and are more welcoming to casual newcomers.

I'm not suggesting this is necessarily a bad thing.

Nintendo has recently incorporated 'bail me out' features into nearly all its games, making it possible for less-skilled players to move past difficult levels. The evolution of this player-assist system illustrates the trajectory I'm describing."

Whether or not Kojima's commentary was intended, he has succeeded in adding a goofy element to his legendary franchise.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has no release date. For more about the title, visit its official website here.