Death Stranding was one of the most popular games in 2019 and some of Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions best work. While rumors have been swirling and anticipation building for quite a while, the gaming community is excited about the potential Death Stranding 2 release date in early 2025.
There is not much we know about the details of the game, nor whether it will be out next year. Still, speculation has been making rounds based on the trailer release, and sneak peek viewers got for the game at the 2022 Game Awards. In this article, we’ll look into what we know about the potential date of the Death Stranding 2 release, alongside its plot and casting.
Initial Reveal: Game Awards 2022
Amidst excited cheers at the 2022 Game Awards, the legendary Hideo Kojima, the producer of Death Stranding, graced the stage, playfully acknowledging his inability to foresee the unknown in his upcoming release. His playful banter and subtle hints in the trailer ignite his fans’ curiosity about Kojima Productions’ new game. The four-minute teaser didn’t reveal much of the gameplay, but it gave us a sense of how the characters and plot line might change.
Fans can expect at least another trailer release before the actual release date announcement. Actor Norman Reedus also gave us hints about the game being in production in early 2022; it has been in development for almost two years. A game release in 2024’s fall is probably ideal, considering the original Death Stranding was released on November 9, 2019, five years ago. The game won three awards that year, generating much more hype for a sequel. Even now, the game is one of the most popular during the PS4 era. A 2024 release is also ideal since it would be before the 2024 Game Awards, making it eligible for nominations.
Possible Film Adaptation
The Death Standing brand also plans to expand with a film adaptation by A24 soon. The adaptation was announced at the end of 2023, so we might see a movie trailer soon. That said, we’re still in the dark on potential casting, shooting locations, or whether the story would follow the same plot as the first game.
Game Awards 2023 and OD
The gaming community expected a trailer at the 2023 Game Awards after the first trailer came out at the previous year’s Game Awards. Instead, Hideo Kojima unraveled his newest strange work called ‘OD,’ another horror game in the works alongside Jordan Peele. Considering Death Stranding 2 was unveiled a year prior, the next release would be a trailer for DS2.
Death Stranding 2 Release Date
Fans speculate that Kojima Productions might follow a similar pattern to tease gamers the way they did for the original Death Stranding game. The producers revealed six trailers before the game, and the release took place almost three years after the initial reveal. So, that puts the release of Death Stranding 2 in early 2025. While the game might not be released this year, we can expect more information and teasers on the title and cinematics throughout 2024 after a long silence from the producers in 2023.
Overall, while we’re eager to know more about DS2’s story, setting, and gameplay, the original question of when it’s releasing remains, and while a fall 2024 release might not seem too far-fetched, a 2025 release seems more probable.
What Platforms Will It Be Released On
The original Death Stranding game was a PS4 exclusive, which later made its way to PCs in 2020. Death Stranding: Director’s Cut later came out on PS5 and PC Game Pass. As for DS2, Kojima Productions says it will surely be available on PS5. It might be a PS5 exclusive, but it will eventually reach Sony platforms and PCs.
What Might the Plot, Setting, and Cast Look Like?
Hideo Kojima has told us a bit about the casting for Death Stranding 2, and it is safe to say Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, and Troy Baker from the original game will return for the sequel. Elle Fanning (Super 8) and Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool 2) will join the cast in unknown roles.
As for the plot, a four-minute trailer isn’t enough to decipher how these two games are connected. DS2’s story is probably a follow-up to the first one, as we see an older Sam Porter and a fully healed Fragile. There is also a mention of a corporation named APAC (Automated Public Assistance Company) and a hint that we might be dealing with multiple realities connected through the beach. Hideo Kojima also told us that he changed the entire story after experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic so we might be in for surprises.
Plot aside, the setting was also one of the major attractions for the original Death Stranding game. The game does involve much fighting, but you also master how to navigate a highly dystopian terrain without damaging your cargo. The characters could tumble over the mountains or not pass rivers unless they had the right tools, bringing a realistic element, too. The setting is an image of future apocalyptic America except with European terrain. DS2 seems slightly shifting from this terrain, where the trailer shows Sam Porter mostly indoors.
The outdoors also appears more rocky and desert-like rather than mountainous. We also see some strange device emerging from what seems to be a lake, so water terrain might also be an option. It would be interesting to see how Kojima Production attempts to link the two stories.
Endnote
While a lot is in the air about Death Stranding 2, we can expect to see more about the game in 2024. Players can likely expect a continuation of the unique blend of storytelling, gameplay innovation, and artistic vision that made Death Stranding a standout title in the gaming industry. Based on everything we know, the game will be released on PS5. Norman Reedus will return as Sam Porter, just an older version, alongside other talented actors from Hollywood. The setting might not be as mountainous as before but might involve some indoors and some water bodies.
There is no release date announced yet, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope we get our hands on it in 2025. Until the official announcement, the gaming community will continue to speculate and eagerly anticipate the next chapter in Hideo Kojima’s visionary universe now that both OD and DS2 are in production simultaneously.
