Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Release window, trailers, platforms, story & more

Death Stranding 2 was unveiled at The Game Awards 2022 and has been gearing up for launch, so here is everything we know so far.

The Game Awards 2022 was jam-packed with exciting reveals and announcements as fans got a first look at the games they will spend their time on for the foreseeable future.

Among the biggest surprises was the premier of Death Stranding 2, the follow-up to Hideo Kojima’s apocalyptic 2019 PlayStation-exclusive title. Players will be keen to see where Sam Bridges’ story takes him next.

With new features, characters, and more already revealed for the sequel, there is much to be excited about. As such, we’ve put together everything we know about Death Stranding 2 ahead of its launch.

Death Stranding 2 release window

There is currently no release date for Death Stranding 2, but we do now know that the game will be released in 2025.

During the 2024 Toyko Game Show, Kojima confirmed that the game will be released in 2025. While they have an exact date in mind, he is not yet ready to announce it to the public.

“The release date has already been decided, and I’m currently working on it in preparation for that,” revealed Kojima. “Since we are talking about 2025, it will be released next year, so we will announce it at some point next year.

Be sure to check back in with this section as we update it with a more accurate release date when Kojima announces it in the future.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach platforms

According to the first Death Stranding 2 trailer, the game is currently only slated for release on PlayStation 5. The first installment was a popular Sony exclusive, so it’s no surprise to see it doubling down on the latest hardware, but it does mean that those still on PS4 may miss out.

The original also made its way to PC a year after release and then Mac / iOS devices in 2024, so there’s a good chance that Death Stranding 2 will follow the same pattern at least with PC.

Story details: What will the sequel be about?

Based on the footage already seen from the game, Death Stranding 2 appears to be a direct sequel taking place years later. An older and greyer Sam Bridges, played again by Norman Reedus, will also return as the sequel’s main protagonist.

The official synopsis for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach reads as follows:

“Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam—with companions by his side—sets out on a new journey to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they traverse a world beset by otherworldly enemies, obstacles, and a haunting question: should we have connected? Step by step, legendary game creator Hideo Kojima changes the world once again.”

Death Stranding 2 gameplay

From the brief gameplay we’ve seen of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, we can confirm that combat and traversal mirror that of the original title, though obviously with plenty of new bells and whistles attached.

As expected, there will be lots of walking and climbing but across a much more vast range of environments from the first game. Weather changes appear to be a significant shift for the sequel, with flash floods, landslides, and other environmental challenges set to alter how you traverse the world.

Given that one of the main criticisms of the first game was the slow pacing, the sequel is already looking much more action-packed.

While very little has been revealed about combat, we have seen the introduction of a new type of robotic enemy, which will undoubtedly shake things up compared to the human enemies from the first game.

An extensive Photo Mode feature

Kojima is known for pushing boundaries and with Death Stranding 2, the acclaimed gaming dev is looking to once again reinvent things with a photo mode unlike any we’ve seen before.

During the Toyko Games show, fans were treated to a new look at Death Stranding 2. Of all the things revealed, the photo mode feature was by far the biggest takeaway. Typically, the photo mode in a game freezes time, allowing players to grab a quick pic of the luscious environment or a cool snap of their character.

However, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will take things multiple steps further, with the in-game photo mode allowing players to take Polaroid pics of characters sticking funny poses and smiling right for the camera.

pic.twitter.com/dlQRAWX0oz

— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) September 29, 2024

You can zoom in and out of frame, pick how focused you want the shot to be, and even make it as overexposed as you like.

Death Stranding 2 trailers

Despite not having a set release date for Death Stranding: On the Beach, Kojima Productions has not shied away from dropping multiple trailers, both cinematic and gameplay-focused, to give players a taste of what to expect from the sequel.

Below is the initial teaser trailer for the game and the fleshed-out footage that dropped during the January 31, 2024, State of Play.

The State of Play reveal also confirmed a major detail: Troy Baker’s Higgs Monaghan will return for the sequel. This revelation came as a shock to many, especially those who played the first game and knew Monaghan’s fate.

Be sure to check back in with this article as we update it with all the latest Death Stranding 2: On the Beach details.