Hideo Kojima has an intriguing concept for Death Stranding 3, but he will not be at the helm to bring it to life. Dive deeper into how Death Stranding 2 could spawn numerous sequels and what Kojima has lined up for his future endeavors.
Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead
Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"
In an insightful interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Death Stranding 2 (DS2), shared that he has conceptualized what could become Death Stranding 3. However, he has no intention of directing it himself. Kojima highlighted the "Plate Gates" feature set to debut in DS2, which could enable the series to explore different countries and potentially generate endless sequels. He stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."
Despite his innovative idea, Kojima firmly dismissed any personal involvement in a third installment, 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 suggests that while fans may not see a Kojima-directed sequel soon, the door is open for other developers to continue the saga with his blessing.
The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme
Kojima also reflected on how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the thematic direction of DS2. Released in November 2019, the original Death Stranding game came just before the world entered lockdown, emphasizing themes of connection and isolation.
Kojima remarked, "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."
He drew parallels between the game's Chiral Network and the real-world Internet, which he said was crucial during the pandemic for keeping people connected. Yet, he pointed out the irony that the same Internet now contributes to human division, with increasing reliance on the metaverse and screen-based interactions.
Kojima expressed concern about the future of human communication, 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."
The pandemic led Kojima to reconsider DS2's initial concept, leading him to question the benefits of hyper-connectivity. He noted, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," a sentiment reflected through one of the game's characters. The logos of the games hint at their themes, with the first game symbolizing "Let’s Connect" and the sequel suggesting "We should not have connected." Kojima concluded, "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
Even as he steps back from directing a potential Death Stranding 3, Kojima is far from slowing down. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele unveiled their new game, OD (formerly Overdose), at The Game Awards 2023, developed 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 announced a partnership with PlayStation for a "next-generation action espionage game" during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This will be a brand-new original IP, marking a significant milestone as he celebrates the 40th anniversary of his game production career. He stated, "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 game will commence after the completion of DS2.
While these future projects are on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for new content as Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Keep an eye on our Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article for the latest updates!
