Ludens

Ludens is the emblematic figure of Kojima Productions—a studio mascot conceived to express the motto “From Sapiens to Ludens: we are Homo Ludens (those who play).” Rather than a specific character with a fixed identity, Ludens is a symbol for creative exploration. The design fuses astronaut and medieval–explorer motifs: an ornate extra-vehicular “EVA creative suit,” layered like armor, a domed helmet with a skeletal visor, hard plating over flexible under-sutures, and a life-support rig that looks as much like a heraldic cuirass as a space backpack. He’s almost always depicted planting a studio flag, emphasizing discovery and invention over combat.

Created by Yoji Shinkawa with the studio’s signature industrial elegance, Ludens sits at the crossroads of the old and the new—part deep-sea diver, part moonwalker, part knight errant. The silhouette is purposeful and readable: oversized boots for traction, reinforced gauntlets, a utility belt and tethers that suggest long-range sorties, and small visual “story” cues (fasteners, vents, embossed emblems) that sell the suit as a functional tool, not just a costume. That mix of utility and mystique is the point: anyone—developer, artist, or player—can be inside the suit.

Although not the protagonist of any game, Ludens threads through Kojima Productions’ culture and work. He appears as easter eggs and gear nods in Death Stranding (think mask accessories, logos, and figures), turns up in statues and high-end collectibles, and anchors the studio’s visual identity across trailers, packaging, and events. In short, Ludens is Kojima Productions’ north star: a banner under which making, playing, and pushing into unknown territory are the same act.