With Death Stranding 2: On the Beach set to launch on June 26, 2025, the excitement within the gaming community is palpable. Hideo Kojima and his team at Kojima Productions are ramping up the promotional machine, with a major world premiere event scheduled for June 8, 2025. This showcase promises new gameplay footage, special guests, and commentary from Kojima himself, all broadcast live for fans worldwide. The studio is also embarking on a global tour to keep the momentum going right through to November. Kojima Productions is pulling out all the stops to ensure this sequel lands with maximum impact.
New Setting, Mechanics, and Features
One of the most intriguing shifts in Death Stranding 2 is its setting. This time, players will traverse the vast, untamed wilderness of Australia, a dramatic departure from the first game’s Icelandic-inspired America. The environments are more varied than ever, including deserts, mountains, aquatic zones, and even cityscapes. Each biome presents its own traversal challenges, amplified by dynamic environmental hazards like rockslides, floods, wind storms, and even forest fires. The world feels alive and unpredictable, promising a far more reactive experience than before.
Gameplay-wise, Death Stranding 2 leans heavily into RPG elements. Sam Porter Bridges can now unlock skills that directly impact gameplay, and a robust weapon-crafting system adds further depth. Natural disasters can strike at any moment, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly. The seamless day-and-night cycles and interconnected terrains suggest a world that’s both beautiful and dangerous, where every journey feels unique.
Narrative Depth: Themes of Connection and Survival
Kojima’s storytelling remains as enigmatic as ever. The central theme revolves around Sam and his allies embarking on a mission to save humanity from extinction. The question of whether humans should remain connected in a fractured world sits at the heart of the narrative. While the first game explored similar existential dilemmas, the sequel promises to delve even deeper, challenging players’ expectations at every turn. The official messaging teases that players should “expect the unexpected,” hinting at twists and surprises that will keep fans theorising long after launch.
The cast is expanding, too, with the addition of popular VTuber Usada Pekora as an NPC, showcasing Kojima’s knack for blending real-world pop culture with his unique brand of storytelling. This willingness to experiment with character and narrative design is part of what makes the series so compelling.
More Action, More Freedom
One of the most significant changes in Death Stranding 2 is its approach to combat and player agency. Early impressions from those who’ve played extensive previews suggest that the sequel is more action-oriented, with a broader arsenal of non-lethal weapons and a greater emphasis on player choice. Unlike the original, where lethal force was discouraged due to the risk of catastrophic “voidouts,” the sequel lets players engage enemies more freely without such dire consequences. This shift should appeal to a wider audience, making the gameplay loop more dynamic and less restrictive.
Test reviews and early feedback indicate that Death Stranding 2 is resonating more positively with players compared to its predecessor. While Kojima admits he isn’t interested in making something that appeals to everyone, the broader appeal and refined mechanics seem to be winning over both newcomers and returning fans.
Why I’m Excited for Death Stranding 2
As someone who was initially sceptical of the original Death Stranding, I found myself drawn in by its meditative pacing and unconventional storytelling. The sequel looks to build on everything that made the first game special while addressing many of its criticisms. The new setting, expanded gameplay systems, and more varied environments promise a richer, more engaging experience.
