Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is the upcoming sequel to Hideo Kojima’s oddball masterpiece Death Stranding. As someone who fell in love with the first game and its unique world, I have been eagerly awaiting any additional details. I did not get the chance to preview the sequel myself, but colleagues from several outlets recently played a sizeable chunk of it. Thanks to their coverage, we now have plenty of fresh information to share.
So, what are the big changes for Death Stranding 2? Here’s what I’ve found out:
Improved game pacing
A common complaint about Death Stranding was its pacing in both gameplay and storytelling. I remember a friend saying, “If this game were 20 hours instead of 40, I would have really liked it.” Fortunately, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach looks set to improve matters in several ways.
One new feature is the Corpus, a glossary you can open at any time to recap the plot or learn more about characters. Eurogamer reports that its team played about 30 hours of the sequel, representing roughly 40 per cent of the full story. For deeper plot details, check out their preview.
We’re Headed To New locations
This time, Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) embarks on a globe‑trotting adventure. After Fragile (Léa Seydoux) asks Sam to help connect Mexico to the chiral network, his mission eventually leads him to Australia, home to our very own Karl Smart. How and why Sam ends up there remains a mystery, but Eurogamer says the bulk of the game takes place in the Land Down Under.
Given Kojima’s affection for George Miller and the Mad Max series, an Australian setting should surprise no one.
Refined, more varied gameplay
Some players did not connect with the original’s walking‑simulator vibe. I loved it, although I felt the game took too long to reach its combat‑heavy sections.
For those who enjoyed the calming traversal, all of that remains in Death Stranding 2, but with far more depth. Eurogamer likened the jump from the first game to the sequel to the shift between Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2: once stealth was established, the follow‑up could expand on it.
If you found the gameplay repetitive, good news: the sequel reportedly offers more combat and set‑piece action. You can still choose stealth, go in guns blazing, or mix and match, and Sam has plenty of tools. Familiar weapons return; pistols, assault rifles, shotguns and more—but I am curious to see whether the infamous “piss grenades” make a comeback.
The world also seems more dangerous, with enemy camps to infiltrate and fresh threats to overcome. Eurogamer even wrote, “In many ways, Death Stranding 2 feels like Metal Gear Solid 6,” which is music to my ears. Long‑time Kojima fans could be in for a treat.
Now I Can’t Wait!
Everything I have read about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has raised my excitement even higher. It sounds like the perfect sequel to one of my favourite games of the past decade. One question remains: are we about to witness Kojima’s best game yet? Time will tell, but I will be there to review it—pre‑order for the collector’s edition already secured.
Today’s Death Stranding news does not stop there. A Death Stranding 2: Limited Edition Dualsense controller launches on 26 June 2025 alongside the game, letting players join Sam and company on their mission to save humanity from extinction. Pre‑ordering the Collector’s Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition grants early access from 24 June 2025.
