Death Stranding 2 has been on the wishlist of many gamers for years. In 2023, it was nominated for Most Wanted Game at the Golden Joystick Awards. The following year, it was nominated for Most Anticipated Game at The Game Awards. Rumors have been swirling about a 2025 release date, but nothing had been announced until Sunday. At SXSW in Austin, Texas, it was announced that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will be released this summer.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Release This Summer
Hideo Kojima took the stage at this weekend’s big convention and revealed an explosive new trailer as well as a release date. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will release on June 26. Players who want early access can buy the Collector’s Edition, giving them access to the game two days early. The nearly 10-minute trailer did not disappoint, showcasing many aspects of the new game.
Various cinematic scenes set up the storyline. The gameplay clips showcased many of the gorgeous landscapes that players can traverse. Some of the clips had truly jaw-dropping visuals. It wasn’t just interesting locations that were shown. Various combat scenes were teased, showing off the different weapons and enemies players will engage with throughout the story. The all-star cast was fully teased, led by Walking Dead star Norman Reedus.
A Long Time Coming
Kojima has been working on this sequel for a long time. In the original, which was released in November of 2019, humanity is basically wiped out from a pandemic. A few short months later, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world for an entire year. Kojima stated he had to completely rethink the storyline on the sequel because of the real-world events.
Because of this, it took him more time to get the game to a point where it could be released. He also teased that a fan-favorite villain will be returning. Higgs, played by Troy Baker, will return as the villain of the story. Kojima told the panel on stage that the character was so popular, he couldn’t kill him off. The trailer as a whole shows how much care the creator has put into this game, and it makes everyone more excited to get their hands on it.
Final Thoughts
Players can begin pre-ordering Death Stranding 2: On the Beach next week. Summer is closer than you think, and pretty soon, players will get to dive back into the world and continue the story. Make sure to put this on your list of must-play games this summer!
