*Crying Kojima face intensifies*
When Kojima Productions unexpectedly announced that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach would be released on June 24, 2025, many felt it was due to Grand Theft Auto 6’s impending fall release date. Hence, even though most Kojima games launched in late summer or early fall, releasing DS 2 in that same period seemed unwise.
However, after GTA 6's delay announcement, many AAA and indie developers have breathed a sigh of relief, including Hideo Kojima, who recently talked about how publishers try to move out of the way of big releases.
Speaking on the Hideo Kojima Radio, as translated by X user Genki_JPN, he says, “For example, some are saying GTA may or may not release in November. As soon as it would be announced for November, everyone would move out of the way.”
He further clarified (in a language he understands best) by saying that if a new Mission: Impossible movie were to release in May, others would move out of its way.
It’s worth noting that this radio episode aired in mid-April before the GTA 6 delay announcement. It seems Kojima was talking about big blockbuster releases in general and how they influence relatively smaller projects.
Death Stranding 2 was initially targeting a September release date
Interestingly, Kojima also suggested that Death Stranding 2's initial release date was September. According to Genki_JPN, DS 2’s release date had been decided pretty early, and Kojima wanted it to be released in September. This doesn’t necessarily confirm that DS 2 was going to launch in September, but rather when Kojima wanted to launch his game.
That said, a September 2025 release date for Death Stranding 2 would have made a ton of sense, given PlayStation’s track record. Sony favors September over the busy holiday season for its first and second-party titles, with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 being a prime example.
It's not even the first time that a Hideo Kojima game has come face-to-face with a Grand Theft Auto title. In 2013, Kojima tweeted about feeling "depressed" after seeing the new Grand Theft Auto 5 trailer. He also admitted that their "V" [Metal Gear Solid 5] can't reach GTA's level.
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With GTA 6 delayed, will Death Stranding 2 move to fall?
While there’s always a slight possibility of Death Stranding 2 (or any AAA title) missing its initial release date, chances are that it’s in a good place.
In a separate post, Genki_JPN revealed that 95% of the development on DS 2 had been finished in April and that Kojima Productions is in the final stages of bug fixing.
However, a first-party PlayStation fiesta is already on the horizon in September and October, thanks to Ghost of Yotei and Marathon. While all three are unique titles that mostly cater to different audiences, PlayStation might not be willing to reveal all its cards simultaneously.
As it stands, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach will be available on June 24, 2025, exclusively on PS5 and PS5 Pro. A DS 2 PC port should follow suit in 2026 or beyond.
In other news, Rockstar Games shadow-dropped the breathtaking second trailer of Grand Theft Auto 6, which focuses primarily on Jason and Lucia’s relationship.
For more on Death Stranding 2, stick to esports.gg.
