Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Death Stranding series, has shared intriguing insights into the future of the franchise and his own creative path. Read on to discover how Death Stranding 2 might pave the way for numerous sequels and what lies ahead in Kojima’s career.
Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead
In a recent interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), revealed that he has conceptualized a potential Death Stranding 3. However, he clarified that he would not be directly involved in its development. Kojima highlighted a new feature in DS2 called "Plate Gates," which could enable the series to explore different countries and generate an endless array of sequels. He remarked, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."
Despite this exciting potential, Kojima firmly stated, "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 Death Stranding 3, the series could still expand with the original creator's blessing.
The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The original Death Stranding was released in November 2019, just before global lockdowns began. Reflecting on the game's initial theme, 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 pandemic mirrored the game's narrative, as it highlighted the importance of connectivity through the Chiral Network, which Kojima likened to the Internet. He observed, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also pointed out the paradox that this same connectivity has led to further division among people, with many retreating into virtual realities like the metaverse, thereby reducing real-life human interactions.
Kojima's reflections on connectivity led him to reconsider DS2's message. He explained, "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 perspective prompted him to rethink the game's narrative, suggesting that perhaps excessive connectivity might not be beneficial. This theme is subtly represented in the game's logo, where the strands signify the concept of "Let’s Connect" for the first game and "We should not have connected" for the sequel.
More Projects To Come
While Kojima may not helm the next installment in the Death Stranding series, his creative endeavors extend beyond this franchise. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele announced their collaboration on a new game, OD (formerly known as Overdose), at The Game Awards 2023. This project is being developed in partnership 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 set to collaborate with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this game will be a brand-new original IP. Reflecting on his career, Kojima 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 new game will begin once DS2 is completed.
Although these projects are still on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, scheduled for June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Stay updated with the latest developments on the game by checking out our comprehensive Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article.
