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 about how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for multiple sequels and what lies ahead in Kojima's creative journey.
Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead
In a fascinating twist, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed that he has an idea for what Death Stranding 3 could be, but he won't be the one to develop it. During an interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima disclosed that a concept introduced in DS2—the "Plate Gates"—could potentially lead to a series of sequels. These "Plate Gates" will allow the game's setting to expand across different countries, opening up endless possibilities for future installments. Kojima stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."
However, he firmly ruled out his personal involvement in creating Death Stranding 3, 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 shouldn't expect a Kojima-directed sequel, but other developers might take up the mantle with his blessing.
The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme
Kojima also shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the themes of DS2. The original Death Stranding was released in November 2019, shortly before global lockdowns began. Kojima reflected on the game's initial theme, saying, "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 pandemic mirrored the game’s emphasis on connectivity through the Chiral Network, which Kojima likened to the Internet in real life. "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online," he explained. Yet, he also highlighted the downside: "The same Internet is now the cause of division for humanity." He pointed out the growing trend towards the metaverse and the reduction in real-life interactions.
Kojima expressed concerns 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 rethink DS2's narrative. "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," he mused, which influenced the character development in the game.
He noted that the strands in the game’s logos are thematic indicators: the first game's theme was "Let’s Connect," while DS2's is "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
While Kojima may not lead the next Death Stranding game, his creative output remains undiminished. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele announced their upcoming game OD (formerly known as Overdose) at The Game Awards 2023, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. Kojima revealed, "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 set to collaborate with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This will be a new original IP, marking a significant milestone in his career. "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work," he stated. Development will commence after DS2's completion.
Though these projects are still on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for new content, as DS2 is slated for release. Kojima recently discussed the game's launch date in light of other companies' plans, especially in response to the delay of GTA 6.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is scheduled to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. For the latest updates on the game, be sure to check out our detailed article on Death Stranding 2: On The Beach!
