The next generation of game hardware—rumored to be on the way from Microsoft and Sony—is still many months away. However, that hasn’t tempered the enthusiasm and concern among leading game developers who will be on the front lines of creating titles for consoles with innovative specifications.

One of the brightest minds in development today is Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, who expressed his own unique take on the challenges posed by the next generation of game hardware—and offered a tantalizing hint at what may drive these new machines—during our recent visit to Konami’s offices in Tokyo, Japan. In a wide-ranging interview, Kojima talked about his hopes and concerns for the next-generation consoles, as well as the frustration that new hardware poses for developers looking to expand the scope of their existing franchises.