Digital Dragons 2026 - Riley Russell, from PlayStation VP to Head of Kojima Productions

If there's one name in the modern industry that embodies the definitive link between the seventh and tenth arts, that name is Kojima Productions. The studio founded by the visionary Hideo Kojima needs no introduction, but behind the astounding creativity that gave rise to cultural phenomena like Death Stranding are key figures of immense specific weight. At Digital Dragons, we had the honor and exclusive opportunity to meet and interview one of the top global industry managers: Riley Russell.

For those unfamiliar, Russell is a veteran with a monumental career behind him: he spent a full 22 years at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (PlayStation), holding top roles such as Chief Legal Officer and Vice President, managing the most delicate phases of the brand's expansion in the West. Today, as Studio Head of Kojima Productions, Russell puts his boundless legal, commercial, and strategic experience at the service of the studio, guiding it towards a new and exciting transmedia era.

The bridge between two worlds and Hideo's privilege

Q: Riley, thank you very much for being here with us on Gamesurf. It's a true honor. Kojima Productions has always been seen as a unique studio, but today it seems to have consolidated an absolute leadership position in bridging the video game and film industries. How do you manage this transition, and what does it mean today to work closely with Hollywood?

Riley Russell: Thank you, it's a pleasure to be here at Digital Dragons. Yes, the external perception accurately reflects what we have become. Today, Kojima Productions is not simply a software house that develops video games; we are a leading company that actively bridges the world of gaming and cinema.

The line between these two media is blurring more and more, and we find ourselves right in the middle. This is possible especially thanks to Hideo. His background, his deep knowledge of cinematic language, and the esteem he enjoys in the industry put us in a privileged position, to say the least.

Q: I imagine this reputation completely changes the dynamics when it comes to collaborating with major directors or Hollywood stars.

Riley Russell: Absolutely. Hideo today has the rare privilege of personally choosing which directors, screenwriters, and actors to engage with and collaborate with. We're not talking about simple work contracts or actors hired just to lend their faces to a character; we're talking about a continuous cultural and creative exchange. Directors of the caliber of Guillermo del Toro or Nicolas Winding Refn, or actors like Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen, enter our ecosystem because there is monumental mutual respect for the studio's artistic vision.

The Death Stranding movie: "We're going to have fun!"

Q: It's impossible not to touch on the topic that's keeping fans awake at night: the cinematic adaptation of Death Stranding. What should we expect from this project?

Riley Russell: I can't go into too many industrial details right now, but what I can tell you is that the approach will not be that of the classic "movie based on a video game" that Hollywood has accustomed us to for years, often with questionable results. We want to do something deeply authorial and faithful to the spirit of our IP, but that knows how to fully exploit the language of the cinema screen.

Hideo is closely involved in supervising the project. It will be an extension of our transmedia philosophy. One thing is certain: we're going to have a lot of fun! It will be an incredible journey both for those who loved the game and for those who will approach that world for the first time through the big screen.

The biggest challenge: surviving the PSN hacker attack in 2011

Q: In your long and extraordinary career, you have experienced key moments in PlayStation's evolution. Looking back, what was the biggest challenge you ever had to face, both managerially and personally?

Riley Russell: Without a doubt, managing the devastating hacker attack on the PlayStation Network in 2011. It was by far the most difficult and complex moment of my entire professional life. Overnight, we found ourselves with the entire global network offline, millions of users unable to play, and, above all, a data security crisis of unprecedented proportions in the industry.

I held the role of Chief Legal Officer, and managing that perfect storm required superhuman effort. It meant working day and night, coordinating simultaneously with cybersecurity teams, corporate leadership in Tokyo, government authorities in various countries, and, not least, managing relentless media pressure. The real challenge was not just rebuilding the technical infrastructure, but the legal and reputational aspect: protecting the company and, step by step, rebuilding our players' trust from scratch. It was a very tough school, but it taught me what it truly means to manage a global crisis.

Making Tokyo and Hollywood communicate: the union of two cultures

Q: Bringing that baggage of crisis management and big brands to Kojima Productions, there's a fundamental internal aspect: studio management. Kojima Productions is an international team but based in Tokyo. How do you balance Japanese work culture with the needs and rhythms of partners and talents primarily from Hollywood and the West?

Riley Russell: This is an extraordinary daily challenge, but it is also our greatest strength. Historically, Japanese companies have a very hierarchical structure and decision-making processes that can take time. At Kojima Productions, we have broken down this concept by creating a hybrid environment.

We are an independent studio, which gives us immense agility. We combine the surgical precision, meticulous attention to detail, and dedication typical of Japanese video game craftsmanship with an open, lean, and flexible mindset typical of Western productions. Our team is made up of talents from all over the world. To make Hollywood communicate with Tokyo, you don't just need a good legal or linguistic department; you need cultural empathy: understanding that the timing and communication styles of a Californian actor are different from those of a Japanese programmer, and acting as a buffer to bring everyone together towards excellence.

AI and the value of "100% Human Power"

Q: Another big theme of this Digital Dragons is technological evolution. With the advent of generative artificial intelligence and increasingly automated development tools, how does a studio that makes authorial signature and the human element its founding pillar position itself?

Riley Russell: Our position is very clear: technology must serve art, never the other way around. Advanced tools, including AI, can be useful for optimizing processes, speeding up more repetitive workflows, or helping us with data management. But the soul of a Kojima Productions game – the writing, the direction, the camera placement, the emotion a scene must convey – is born and will always remain a process guided by human intellect and sensibility.

Players seek out our titles because they want to experience the vision and quirks that only the mind of Hideo and our designers can conceive. That spark is not replicable by an algorithm. In a market that risks homogenization, authorship and the "100% human" factor, to quote a trend that emerged here at the festival, become the true luxury value.

Q: Riley, thank you very much for your time and for this splendid overview of the future of Kojima Productions.

Riley Russell: Thank you, keep up the great work on Gamesurf, and greetings to all your readers!