Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Death Stranding series, has revealed an intriguing concept for a potential Death Stranding 3. However, he has made it clear that he won't be the one to bring this idea to life. Dive deeper into how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for numerous sequels and what lies ahead for Kojima's creative journey.
Death Stranding 2 Paves the Way for "Endless Sequels"
In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), shared that he has already conceptualized what could become Death Stranding 3. However, he firmly stated that he won't be working on it himself. The key to this expansive universe lies in the "Plate Gates," a feature set to debut in DS2. These gates will enable the series to explore different countries, potentially leading to an endless series of sequels. Kojima explained, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."
While Kojima has no intention of personally developing Death Stranding 3, he is open to passing the torch to another developer. He mentioned, "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 series could continue under the guidance of other talented developers with his blessing.
The Pandemic Alters Death Stranding 2's Theme
The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the thematic direction of Death Stranding 2. Released just before the world went into lockdown in November 2019, the original game's themes of connectivity and isolation resonated deeply with the real-world situation. Kojima noted, "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 game's Chiral Network, likened to the internet, became even more relevant during the pandemic. Kojima observed, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also pointed out the internet's role in fostering division, especially with the rise of the metaverse, which he believes reduces genuine human interaction. He expressed concern, "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."
Reflecting on these changes, Kojima reconsidered the theme of connectivity for DS2. He remarked, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," a sentiment that influenced the game's narrative and character development. The strands in the game's logos are symbolic of these themes, with the first game representing "Let’s Connect," and the sequel hinting at "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 on the Horizon
Despite stepping back from directing the next installment in the Death Stranding series, 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. This project, developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios, is something Kojima has been contemplating for years. He 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 set to collaborate with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This new IP marks a significant milestone as Kojima 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." The development of this game will commence once DS2 is completed.
While these exciting projects are still in the future, fans won't have to wait long for new content from Kojima. 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!
