Kojima Wrote Death Stranding's Higgs Just for Troy Baker

Ever wonder how some of gaming's most iconic villains come to life? For Troy Baker's Higgs in Death Stranding, it all started with a personal gesture from Hideo Kojima himself.

In a recent PartyChat interview, Baker opened up about his role as the genocidal cult leader. "One of the kindest things that Hideo Kojima has ever done is say, 'Hey, I wrote this part for you,' and he held up to his end of the deal," Baker shared. That's right—Kojima didn't just cast Baker; he crafted the entire character with Baker in mind.

Higgs is a force to be reckoned with: a charismatic villain leading a cult bent on wiping out humanity, constantly pursuing Sam Porter (Norman Reedus) with theatrical flair. Baker's performance is unforgettable, and now we know it was tailor-made for him.

But the story gets even sweeter. Baker recalled a moment after wrapping the game at The Game Awards, when Kojima asked, "Do you know why Higgs plays guitar and sings?" Baker continued, "During the pandemic, I would watch you on your Instagram Lives, when I was feeling down, and I'd watch you play acoustic." Kojima drew inspiration from Baker's pandemic-era Instagram Lives, where Baker would play acoustic guitar. That personal connection struck a chord with Baker, who admitted he had "never been nervous" about who was watching and wished Kojima had told him earlier. "I'd no idea that meant that to him," he said.

Baker has since returned as Higgs in Death Stranding 2, and he's currently working with Naughty Dog on an undisclosed role in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Given Higgs's musical side, fans might want to keep an ear out for any guitar riffs in his future performances.

This story is a beautiful reminder of how personal connections can shape the games we love. What do you think about Kojima's gesture? Will you be replaying Death Stranding to appreciate Higgs even more?