Death Stranding 2: Release date and what to expect

Death Stranding 2 finally has a release date, and it’s coming a lot sooner than most of us had expected. Unlike its predecessor, this title has taken a quieter journey from reveal to launch, with Kojima Productions remaining quiet about providing new details on the game.

A lot of that skepticism has now faded after Hideo Kojima showcased an emotional, 10-minute Death Stranding 2 release date trailer during a special SXSW panel.  

If you happen to miss the trailer or are just curious about Death Stranding 2, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about Death Stranding 2 before its highly anticipated launch later this year. 

Death Stranding 2 launches on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5.

We have a separate guide for the PC version where we speculate about its inevitable release date and the overall sentiment regarding the game’s timed exclusivity, in case you want to check that out.  

You can also start playing the game two days early on June 24, 2025 by purchasing the Digital Deluxe Edition, which offers 48 hours early access to the game.

Like its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 is an open-world action game where you trek through jaw-dropping environments, occasionally stop to fight cargo thieves mules, sneak past otherworldly BTs, and make deliveries. 

However, that’s just scratching the surface of what Death Stranding 2 is all about. At its core, the first Death Stranding was about overcoming loneliness and making connections. It was a sincere social commentary on contemporary human society.

Death Stranding 2 seems to be tackling similar themes but in a slightly different way. Its catchphrase, “We should not have connected,” suggests it explores the more negative, inhumane side of the aftermath of people coming together, which seems believable in a post-pandemic world. 

You still play as Sam Bridges, making deliveries and bringing outposts under the government’s network. However, this time, his journey takes him to Mexico, which, instead of UCA, is governed by Fragile’s private organization, Drawbridge. 

Dollman, a cheeky little puppet, also accompanies Sam in his travels, so going from point A to point B should feel more lively this time around.

Speaking of characters, the game features plenty of familiar faces like Fragile and Higgs. There are also a handful of new characters, with the most notable being Neil, who's played by the Italian actor Luca Marinelli.

Neil has an uncanny facial resemblance to Solid Snake, the protagonist of several Metal Gear games, and many believe it's Kojima's way of metaphorically honoring his past franchise.

Unlike the first game’s beautiful but monotonous Icelandic locales, the one's environments are more diverse and feature harrowing deserts, lush rainforests, and snow-capped valleys. 

The environments aren’t the only thing that receives a shakeup in Death Stranding 2. The recent trailer suggests a more dynamic weather system, new traversal and combat tools, vicious gun battles, bike chase sequences, and large-scale Kaiji-esque BT encounters. 

Overall, this game is shaping up to be a more somber sequel. It's one that feels quite ambitious in every aspect than its predecessor.

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