Liputan6.com, Jakarta - A newly revealed email correspondence from April 2026 has shed light on legendary game designer Hideo Kojima's strong desire to explore outer space where Gabe Newell, CEO of Valve, directly contacted Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, to facilitate a visit to Musk's space facility.
This request came after Kojima expressed his deep interest in AI and space exploration during a visit to Valve headquarters in late October 2018.
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The email disclosure comes as part of the ongoing lawsuit between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, known as the "Musk v. Altman lawsuit."
The lawsuit, filed in August 2024, has brought to light numerous internal documents, including private conversations between prominent tech figures.
These details provide a clear picture of Newell's efforts to make Kojima's dream a reality, as well as Elon Musk's positive response.
Hideo Kojima's Interest in AI and Space
In late October 2018, Hideo Kojima made a significant visit to Valve Corporation headquarters, as reported by Gamespot.
This visit is believed to have been intended to discuss his latest game at the time, then known as Death Stranding.
During his visit, Kojima not only talked about his game project but also expressed his keen interest in the future development of artificial intelligence (AI).
Beyond AI, Kojima also openly expressed his desire to go to space, mentioned his desire to get a tour of the SpaceX facility.
In response to Kojima's enthusiasm, Valve CEO Gabe Newell offered to introduce Kojima to experts at OpenAI and to Elon Musk, given Musk's connection to space exploration.
Gabe Newell's Efforts to Connect Hideo Kojima with Elon Musk
Making good on his promise, Gabe Newell promptly emailed Elon Musk in late October 2018.
In the email, Newell introduced Hideo Kojima as "a true visionary in our field," referring to his contributions to the Metal Gear series.
Newell also conveyed Kojima's deep appreciation for future work in AI.
Newell went on to explain Kojima's second wish: "how much he wants to go to space."
He then offered to introduce Kojima to Musk, hoping to secure a tour of SpaceX.
Musk replied to Newell's email by stating, "Sure, it would be great to meet Hideo Kojima and he's welcome to see the rocket factory."
In 2020, after Kojima reiterated his desire to visit SpaceX with Newell in an interview with Geoff Keighley, Elon Musk responded on the X platform (formerly Twitter) with “Welcome anytime.”
Hideo Kojima's Obsession with Space Exploration
Hideo Kojima's desire to go to space is nothing new, but rather a long-held obsession.
In his book, The Creative Gene, Kojima emphatically stated, "If I could have one wish in my life—if I could cast a magic spell and make anything come true—without a doubt, it would be this: 'I want to go to space before I die.'"
In 2023, Kojima further explained his motivation, stating that he wanted to "go to space and make a game that can be played in space," while pleading, "Please someone send me to space."
A year later, he told The Guardian that he wanted to “go to the International Space Station and live there for a few months,” adding, “I might be able to make a game in space. I want to be the first.”
Correspondence Revealed in Lawsuit
The emails between Gabe Newell and Elon Musk discussing Hideo Kojima’s visit to SpaceX only became public record in April 2026.
This disclosure came thanks to an ongoing lawsuit between Elon Musk and Sam Altman.
The lawsuit, known as the “Musk v. Altman lawsuit,” was filed in August 2024.
In the lawsuit, Musk alleged that Altman had “assured Musk that OpenAI’s non-profit structure” “guaranteed neutrality and a focus on security and openness for the benefit of humanity, not shareholder value.”