Hideo Kojima has an intriguing vision for the future of the Death Stranding series, but he won't be the one to bring Death Stranding 3 to life. Dive into how Death Stranding 2 could spawn numerous sequels and what lies ahead for Kojima's creative journey.
Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead
Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"
Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed that he has conceptualized a potential Death Stranding 3. However, he won't be involved in its development. In a recent interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima explained that a feature introduced in DS2, known as "Plate Gates," could allow the series to explore different countries and pave the way for "endless sequels." He stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."
Despite this exciting potential, Kojima has no intention of directing Death Stranding 3 himself. He noted, "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 might not see a Kojima-directed sequel, other developers could take the helm with his blessing.
The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme
Kojima also shared how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the themes of DS2. The original Death Stranding was released in November 2019, just before the world entered lockdown. Reflecting on the game's initial theme, Kojima said, "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 reinforced the game's message about connectivity, as Kojima likened the Chiral Network to the Internet, stating, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also pointed out the downside of this connectivity, noting how the Internet and the rise of the metaverse have led to increased division and less real-world human interaction. He remarked, "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 shift in societal dynamics prompted Kojima to reconsider the theme of DS2. He initially thought, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," and this introspection is reflected through one of the game’s characters. The strands in the logos of the games are symbolic of their themes, with the first game advocating for connection and the sequel questioning it. Kojima hinted, "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 though Kojima may not direct the next Death Stranding installment, he is far from finished with his creative endeavors. In December 2023, alongside Jordan Peele, he unveiled OD (formerly known as Overdose) at The Game Awards 2023, a project 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 is teaming up with PlayStation for a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this will be a brand-new original IP. Reflecting on his career, Kojima said, "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 new game will commence once DS2 is completed.
While these projects are on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for more from Kojima, as Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5. Keep up with the latest updates on the game by checking out our Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!
