Death Stranding 2 Launches Globally Featuring Star Cast, Pandemic-Inspired Story

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 original, set for release on June 26, 2025. The game continues the story of Sam Porter Bridges, taking players across Mexico and Australia to reconnect regions via the Chiral Network, presented in an episodic format with 17 episodes and 49 main orders. Developer Hideo Kojima revealed that the game's story was completely rewritten due to the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting themes of connection and rediscovering analogue ways of being together after years of isolation. A gameplay leak occurred days before launch but was swiftly removed due to copyright enforcement. The latest patch 1.004 addresses quality of life improvements and crash fixes, though some players report being locked in 1080p resolution without the option to revert to 4K. The sequel features returning star Norman Reedus and French actress Lea Seydoux, alongside new talent, continuing Kojima's blend of cinematic storytelling and gameplay innovation.