Hideo Kojima has a vision for Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to bring it to life. Dive into the details of how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for multiple sequels and what lies ahead for Kojima's creative journey.
Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead
Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"
Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed that he already has a concept for Death Stranding 3. However, in an interview with VGC on May 8, he made it clear that he won't be working on it himself. Kojima mentioned that a feature in DS2, called "Plate Gates," could enable the series to explore different countries and potentially spawn endless sequels. He stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."
Despite this exciting prospect, Kojima quickly dismissed any plans of personally developing Death Stranding 3. He explained, "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 shouldn't expect a Kojima-directed sequel in the near future, though other developers might take the helm with his blessing.
The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme
Kojima also shared how the theme of DS2 evolved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The original game, released in November 2019, emphasized connectivity just before global lockdowns began. He reflected, "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."
As the pandemic unfolded, Kojima noted parallels with the game's Chiral Network, likening it to the Internet's role in keeping people connected. He said, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also pointed out that the Internet has become a source of division, with people increasingly retreating into the metaverse and reducing real-world interactions.
Kojima expressed concern about this shift, 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." This led him to reconsider the theme of DS2, initially centered on connectivity. He remarked, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," and this introspection is reflected in one of the game's characters.
The strands in the game's logos serve as thematic hints. While the first game's logo symbolized "Let’s Connect," the sequel's suggests "We should not have connected." Kojima teased, "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
Although Kojima may not lead the next Death Stranding game, he has plenty of other projects in the pipeline. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele announced their upcoming game, OD (formerly Overdose), during The Game Awards 2023, in collaboration 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 for a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced at PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this will be a brand-new original IP. Reflecting on his career, Kojima said, "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." Development of this new game will begin 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 date in light of other companies' reactions to GTA 6's delay. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!
