> Is doing all the programming "developing" the game?

Yes, if you're also doing game design.

> Is coming up with the game design and hiring programmers "developing" the game?

Yes, so is using LLMs to do the programming.

What if you hire voice actors for each of the characters? And level designers? And animators? At what point does it stop being a solo project? Only when outside investors get involved? Or does it only stop being "solo" if those investors demand board seats? Or can it _still_ be considered "solo" even then?

Given that Death Stranding 2 only credits Kojima as the game's writer and designer, I guess -by GGP's very silly definition- it's a solo project. XD