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

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

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), shared that he has already conceptualized what Death Stranding 3 could be. However, he firmly stated that he will not be involved in its development. Kojima highlighted the "Plate Gates" feature introduced in DS2, which could enable the series to explore different countries and potentially spawn endless sequels. He remarked, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels." Despite this, he clarified, "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 suggests that while fans may not see a Kojima-directed sequel, the franchise could continue under the guidance of other developers with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also discussed how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The original Death Stranding was released in November 2019, just before the world entered lockdown. Kojima 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 mirrored the game's emphasis on connectivity through the Chiral Network, which Kojima likened to the Internet. He noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also pointed out the downside, stating that the same Internet now fosters division and a shift towards the metaverse, reducing real human interactions. Kojima reflected, "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 lockdown experience led Kojima to reconsider the theme of DS2. He questioned the value of excessive connectivity, saying, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much." This introspection is reflected in one of the game's characters and the strands in the game's logos, which hint at their themes. The first game's logo symbolized "Let’s Connect," while the sequel's 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

Even though Kojima may not helm the next Death Stranding game, his creative output will continue to flourish. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele unveiled their new game, OD (formerly Overdose), at The Game Awards 2023, in 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 set to work 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, marking a significant milestone as Kojima celebrates the 40th anniversary of his game production career. He stated, "I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." The development of this game will commence once DS2 is completed.

While these projects are on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, set for June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Stay updated with the latest on the game by checking out our comprehensive Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!