Kojima Confirms Death Stranding 3 Exists, But Won't Develop It

Hideo Kojima has a vision for Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to bring it to life. Dive into how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for multiple sequels and what lies ahead for Kojima’s creative journey.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed an intriguing concept for Death Stranding 3, yet he won't be directing it. During an interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima shared that a feature in DS2, known as the "Plate Gates," could enable the series to explore different countries and generate endless sequels. "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels," he explained. 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." Fans eager for a Kojima-directed sequel might be disappointed, but the door remains open for other developers to take the helm with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the thematic direction of DS2. Released just before the world went into lockdown in November 2019, the original Death Stranding focused on connectivity amidst a backdrop of isolation and division, reflecting real-world events like Brexit. Kojima remarked, "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 mirrored the game's core message, emphasizing the importance of the Chiral Network, likened by Kojima to the Internet. "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online," he noted. Yet, he also observed how the Internet now fuels division, with a shift towards the metaverse and reduced real-life interactions. Kojima pondered, "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."

These reflections led Kojima to reconsider DS2's narrative. Initially, the game's theme was set, but the lockdown experience made him question the value of hyper-connectivity. "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," he mused, a sentiment reflected through one of the game's characters. The strands in the game's logos symbolize their themes; the first game's "Let’s Connect" contrasted with DS2's "We should not have connected." Kojima hinted, "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 Kojima might not lead Death Stranding 3, his creative endeavors extend far beyond. In December 2023, alongside Jordan Peele, he unveiled OD (formerly Overdose) at The Game Awards 2023, a collaboration 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 teaming up with PlayStation for a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This new title marks a significant milestone as Kojima celebrates his 40th anniversary in game production. "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work," he stated. Development will begin once DS2 is finished.

Although these projects are on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for new content. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Stay updated with the latest on the game by checking out our Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!