Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Death Stranding series, has revealed intriguing details about the future of the franchise, including the possibility of a Death Stranding 3. However, he has confirmed that he will not be at the helm of this potential sequel. Dive deeper into how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for numerous sequels and what lies ahead in Kojima's creative journey.
Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead
Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"
In an insightful interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), shared that he has conceptualized a potential Death Stranding 3. However, he firmly stated that he would not be the one to bring this vision to life. Kojima highlighted the "Plate Gates," a new feature introduced in DS2, which could enable the series to expand into various countries, thus facilitating an array of sequels. He noted, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."
Despite this exciting prospect, Kojima clarified his stance on his involvement, saying, "I, of course, don’t have any plans to do that, but I already have a concept for another sequel. I am not going to make it myself, but if I passed it on to someone else, they could probably make it." This means fans might not see a Kojima-directed Death Stranding 3, but the door remains open for other developers to carry forward his legacy with his blessing.
The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme
Kojima also shed light on how the global situation influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The first game hit the shelves in November 2019, right before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflected on the world's shift towards isolation and division, particularly citing Brexit as an example, and how it shaped the original game's message. "The world was heading towards isolation and division, such as the UK leaving the EU. So I was saying, ‘Let’s connect. We’re headed for disaster if we don’t connect.’ That was the theme, story, and gameplay for Death Stranding."
The arrival of the pandemic underscored the relevance of Death Stranding's themes, with the Chiral Network mirroring the real-life internet's role in keeping people connected. Kojima noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also pointed out the internet's role in fostering division, with the rise of the metaverse and a decline in direct human interaction. He expressed concerns about the future of communication, stating, "Communication between human beings is not meant to be this way. You meet people by chance or see sights you didn’t expect to see. With the way we were headed, you would lose all of that."
The experience of the lockdown led Kojima to reconsider the narrative of DS2, prompting him to question the benefits of hyper-connectivity. He hinted at these reflections being woven into the game's storyline, suggesting that one of the characters embodies his newfound perspective. He teased, "The strands from the game’s logos are hints to their respective themes, with the first game having the concept of 'Let’s Connect,' while the sequel says 'We should not have connected.' When you really start thinking about what it means to connect, you start to wonder… That’s all I’ll say for now."
More Projects To Come
Even though Kojima might not direct the next installment in the Death Stranding series, he remains busy with a plethora of other creative endeavors. In December 2023, alongside Jordan Peele, he unveiled their collaborative project, OD (formerly known as Overdose), during The Game Awards 2023. This game is being developed in partnership with Microsoft Game Studios. Kojima shared, "The project we’re working on with Microsoft is one I have been thinking about for five or six years already. The project required infrastructure that was never needed before, so I discussed it with lots of different big companies and gave presentations, but they really seemed to think that I was mad."
Additionally, Kojima is teaming up with PlayStation to craft a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This title represents a new original IP and marks a significant milestone in his career. He remarked, "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." The development of this game will commence once DS2 is completed.
While these projects are still on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2. Kojima recently discussed the game's release strategy in light of other industry developments, including the delay of GTA 6. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5. For the latest updates and more information about the game, be sure to check out our dedicated article on Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.
