Hideo Kojima’s work is known to be polarising, a fine example of which was 2019’s Death Stranding. Popularly known in the gaming community as ‘the walking simulator’, this video game drew a lot of attention for its mind-bending story which had enough twists to either hook players or offend them enough that they never played it again. Five years after its release, Kojima Productions is now back with a sequel called Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and after the first trailer was released during PlayStation State of Play in January 2024, we are as puzzled as we were in 2019 when we got our first glimpse at that game’s plot.
Releasing in 2025 exclusively for the Sony PS5 console, Death Stranding 2, once again, brings together many highly acclaimed Hollywood actors for what appears to be another epic adventure. The 9-minute long trailer offers a sneak peek into another mind-bending story which, like the previous instalment, could require the player’s full attention and involvement to grasp everything going on with the protagonist.
Although Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is in its early stages of development, there’s a lot we can decipher from the trailer. If you loved the original game and cannot wait for the sequel to drop, here’s a look at everything we know about this upcoming video game.
‘Death Stranding 2: On The Beach’: The storyline explained
For fans of the franchise who saw the trailer, it is easy to get a vague idea of how the story will pan out. Based on our rough understanding, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach takes off after the incidents of the first game. Norman Reedus’ Sam Porter Bridges returns to the scene after connecting the UCA (United Cities of America) to the network and saving the world from the death-stranding phenomenon, thereby preventing humanity’s extinction.
In the trailer, we see Sam being brought back by Léa Seydoux’s Fragile to the Drawbridge onboard the DHV Magellan mobile base with one primary objective – to include the neighbouring areas of Mexico into the UCA’s network. The trailer also confirms the return of BT (Beached Things) and BB (Bridge Baby) as supernatural entities involved in Sam’s journey across Mexico. However, it’s probably safe to assume that what most fans are interested in seeing is the new antagonist Higgs Monaghan, portrayed by Troy Baker.
Donning makeup inspired by Heath Ledger’s Joker from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008), this character will play a big role in the storyline, seeking revenge for what Sam and Fragile did to him in the first instalment.
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Will ‘Death Stranding 2: On The Beach’ be another walking simulator?
Going by the first trailer, it seems likely.
The character of Sam Bridges, as a delivery man, has to traverse a dystopian version of Mexico to connect it to the UCA’s network. Although, like the first game, there will be vehicles, Sam may still have to walk across some scenic landscapes (as shown in the trailer) and this time, his cargo pile won’t be oddly resting on his back all the time. Not to mention, since this is Mexico, you can expect a variety of beautiful landscapes to traverse.
‘Death Stranding 2: On The Beach’ release date and platforms
Although the arrival of this sequel has got us excited, not everyone is going to experience Hideo Kojima’s latest creation at launch. Kojima Productions has confirmed Death Stranding 2: On The Beach as a PlayStation 5 exclusive that is slated to release in 2025.
Does that mean there won’t be a Death Stranding 2 release for the latest Xbox Series X/S consoles and PC?
If the first instalment’s release is anything to go by, Kojima Productions could release it for the PC in 2026 and an enhanced version for the next-gen PlayStation 6, which is expected to arrive in 2028. We can also expect a mobile version of the game to reach iOS and iPadOS in the future. Unfortunately, we don’t expect the studio to release it on the Xbox consoles.
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Kojima Productions)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– When is Death Stranding 2: On The Beach releasing?
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated to release in 2025 on the Sony PS5 console.
– What will be the gameplay of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach?
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach will be an action-adventure narrative video game which will be releasing as the successor to the original Death Stranding.
