The highly anticipated sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is scheduled for release on the PlayStation 5 in June. New gameplay and narrative elements were unveiled on Thursday during previews of the game. Hideo Kojima, the acclaimed director and head of Kojima Productions, shared insights into the story and gameplay concepts that shape the upcoming title and clarified the reasoning behind its June launch amidst a busy year for video game releases. According to Kojima, the timing for Death Stranding 2 was strategically chosen to prevent overlap with other titles slated for launch by Sony.
Reason for June Launch
During an episode of his Koji 10 radio show on TBS podcast, Kojima addressed a listener’s inquiry regarding the decision to launch the game in June instead of September, which was reported by IGN.
Kojima indicated that the release schedule is not solely at his discretion and is impacted by the planned timelines for other games. He stated that the release date for Death Stranding 2 had been established well in advance.
“For example, Sony has various other titles coming out,” Kojima remarked. “We can’t overlap with these releases. This is similar to the film industry. The decision regarding Death Stranding 2’s launch date was made some time ago.”
His comments imply that Sony, which is publishing Death Stranding 2, aims to avoid scheduling the game near other first-party releases. A September launch would place the sequel right before the release of Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei, an exclusive for PS5 scheduled for October 2.
Death Stranding 2 will feature Sam Porter Bridges in more delivery scenarios.
Photo Credit: Sony/ Kojima Productions
Upcoming Game Releases in 2025
A range of notable titles is set to be released between June and October, including Konami’s Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of the classic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. This game will debut on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series S/X on August 28. Following closely, the action title Lost Soul Aside will be released on August 29 for PS5 and PC.
On September 4, Rogue Factor’s action-adventure game Hell is Us will launch, and later, Sony’s live-service shooter Marathon is expected on September 23.
Despite the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6 to 2026, Take-Two has announced a busy schedule this year, with Borderlands 4 moving its release date from September 23 to September 12. Additionally, 2K revealed that Mafia: The Old Country will hit the shelves on August 8.
The late June launch for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach allows the game a clear opening, as there are no significant releases in July.
Combat will feature in Death Stranding 2, offering players optional engagement.
Photo Credit: Sony/ Kojima Productions
Core Gameplay of Death Stranding 2
In a separate interview with IGN, Kojima elaborated on the gameplay mechanics in Death Stranding 2. While the first installment focused primarily on delivering cargo across challenging landscapes, early previews indicate that combat will play a larger role in the sequel.
Despite this addition, Kojima emphasized that the core of the game remains centered on cargo delivery. “Combat is not the primary focus. The game is still fundamentally about delivering cargo, but we’ve made combat more flexible,” he stated. He added that players could choose to navigate around enemies, utilizing vehicles to avoid confrontation.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to release exclusively on PS5 on June 26, continuing the journey of Sam Porter Bridges as he endeavors to reconnect fragmented human communities in a post-apocalyptic setting. Pre-orders are currently available on the PlayStation Store.
