Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an upcoming 2025 action-adventure video game developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5. Directed by Hideo Kojima, it is the sequel to 2019's Death Stranding.
Taking place after the original game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach follows protagonist Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) as he embarks on a journey outside of the United Cities of America (UCA), while also investigating the supposed death of his surrogate daughter and Bridge Baby ("BB"), Lou. As with its predecessor, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an action-adventure game set in an open world environment and played from a third-person perspective.
Death Stranding 2 is Kojima's second collaboration with Sony, with technical support provided by Guerrilla Games for the Decima engine. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kojima rewrote the entire story from scratch. Kojima first teased a sequel following the release of first game in 2019; existence of the game was subsequently leaked through different sources including in interviews with lead actor Norman Reedus. Kojima began teasing the game in October 2022 through cryptic messages and gradual reveal of involved actors. The game was officially announced at The Game Awards 2022.
Gameplay[]
Death Stranding 2 is an action-adventure video game set in a post-apocalyptic open world environment.
Synopsis[]
Setting and characters[]
Death Stranding features returning characters Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), Fragile (Léa Seydoux) and the Bridge Baby ("BB") Louise, as well antagonist Higgs (Troy Baker). Additional revealed actresses are Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna in currently undisclosed roles. The likenesses of George Miller and Fatih Akin are also used for two new characters, voiced by Martin Roune and Jonathan Roumie, respectively.
Development[]
Death Stranding 2 is developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Sony subsidiary Guerrilla Games is providing technical support with its game engine Decima, which was previously used for the first game, while Epic Games is providing its Metahuman technology.[1] Hideo Kojima serves as the game's director, producer, scenario writer and designer, while long-time collaborator Yoji Shinkawa serves as character and mechanical art designer. Yuji Shimomura serves as action director, a role he reprises from the previous game. Kyle Cooper is the title designer.[2]
Story and writing[]
According to Kojima, the game's script was rewritten from scratch due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred following the release of the first game.[3]
Casting[]
Prior to the game's official announcement in December 2022, Kojima confirmed the involvement of actresses Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna in the months leading to it.[4][5] With the game's announcement, it was revealed that Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux and Troy Baker will return, with the former two reprising their roles as Sam Porter Bridges and Fragile.[6] At the time, it wasn't clarified whether Baker's character will be Higgs from the previous game or an entirely new role. The second trailer, released in January 2024, confirmed that Baker would reprise his role as Higgs.[7]
In January 2024, Kojima confirmed the appearances of film directors George Miller and Fatih Akin. While loaning their likenesses to the game, their characters will be voiced by Martin Roune and Jonathan Roumie.[8]
Music[]
The score for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is composed by Ludvig Forssell, who previously worked on the soundtrack of the previous game, as well as on Kojima's Metal Gear Solid V duology.[9] This is the first score by Forssell for a Kojima Productions title as a freelancer, having left the company in 2021.[10]
Marketing and release[]
Death Stranding 2 was announced by Kojima Productions on December 9, 2022, at The Game Awards 2022 ceremony.[11] Kojima Productions clarified following the announcement that Death Stranding 2 was a working title for the sequel.[12] A second trailer depicting further story elements and gameplay footage was released on January 31, 2024, as part of a State of Play presentation. The game's full title, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, was announced alongside a 2025 release window.[13]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.aroged.com/2022/12/10/death-stranding-2-not-only-decima-engine-hideo-kojimas-game-will-use-epics-metahuman-for-faces/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1752900887977267372
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/hideo-kojima-rewrote-death-stranding-2-after-the-covid-19-pandemic
- ↑ https://www.polygon.com/23392542/hideo-kojima-productions-elle-fanning-death-stranding-2
- ↑ https://www.polygon.com/23434491/hideo-kojima-productions-new-game-shioli-kutsuna
- ↑ https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga/23501045/death-stranding-2-hideo-kojima-productions-announcement-release-date-trailer
- ↑ https://venturebeat.com/games/i-watched-troy-baker-zap-someone-with-a-guitar-solo-this-week-kaser-focus/
- ↑ https://www.polygon.com/24057164/death-stranding-2-on-the-beach-state-of-play
- ↑ "Here it is! I am back writing the score for Death Stranding 2! Please check out this new trailer that I also wrote the music for!", Twitter.
- ↑ https://www.gematsu.com/2021/03/kojima-productions-composer-ludvig-forssell-leaves-to-go-freelance
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/death-stranding-2-officially-announced
- ↑ https://twitter.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/1601036933387386880
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/death-stranding-2-story-revealed-in-extended-trailer-state-of-play-2024