Kojima Denies Making Death Stranding 3 Despite Its Existence

Hideo Kojima has already conceptualized a storyline for Death Stranding 3, but he has confirmed that he will not be the one to bring it to life. Dive deeper to understand how Death Stranding 2 sets the stage for potential sequels and what lies ahead in Kojima's creative journey.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"

Hideo Kojima, the director behind Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has shared that he envisions a future for Death Stranding 3, yet he will not be steering the project. In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima discussed how a unique concept introduced in DS2 could spawn numerous sequels.

He highlighted the "Plate Gates," a new feature in DS2 that could allow the series to explore settings across different countries, thus enabling "endless sequels." Kojima noted, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

However, he 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 means fans should not expect a sequel directly from Kojima, but the door remains open for other developers to take the helm with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also touched on how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The original game, released in November 2019, preceded the widespread lockdowns by just a few months.

He explained, "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, according to Kojima, underscored the relevance of the game's Chiral Network, likening it to the Internet that kept people connected during isolation. "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online," he added.

Yet, he also pointed out the downside of this connectivity. "The same Internet is now the cause of division for humanity," Kojima remarked, referencing the increasing reliance on the metaverse and diminishing real-life interactions.

Kojima stressed, "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."

The initial concept for DS2 was already set, but the real-world events of the pandemic prompted Kojima to rethink the game's narrative. He pondered, "‘Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," and this introspection is reflected through one of the game’s characters.

The strands in the game’s logos hint at their themes, with the first game promoting "Let’s Connect," while DS2 suggests "We should not have connected." Kojima teased, "When you really start thinking about what it means to connect, you start to wonder… That’s all I’ll say for now."

More Projects To Come

While stepping away from leading Death Stranding 3, Kojima is far from finished with his creative endeavors. In December 2023, he and acclaimed filmmaker Jordan Peele announced their new game, OD (previously known as Overdose), at The Game Awards 2023, 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 collaborating with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this will be a brand-new original IP.

Reflecting on his career, Kojima said, "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 commence following the completion of DS2.

While these projects are on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2. Kojima recently discussed the game’s release date, considering other companies' plans in light of GTA 6’s delay.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Stay updated with the latest news on the game by checking out our dedicated article on Death Stranding 2: On The Beach!