Major spoilers ahead for Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach takes Sam on his most challenging journey yet. Accompanied by the crew of the DHV Magellan, all of Sam's relationships keep him afloat during a dark time in Death Stranding 2, but Fragile remains his most important ally. Throughout the first game, Fragile's assistance was invaluable to Sam, but this time around, her role is far more profound.
The first hours of Death Stranding 2 don't hold back. The story comes out swinging with an emotional gut punch, as Fragile and Lou try to escape Higgs and his army while Sam is away on a delivery mission. While attempting to run away, Fragile is shot by Higgs, and Lou dies. After the tragedy, Sam falls into a deep depression, and from that point on, Fragile becomes his primary motivator, and it sets the rest of the story into motion.
Death Stranding 2 is Kojima at Both His Goofiest and Most Sincere
Death Stranding 2's story blends heartfelt moments with the outrageous, making it one of Hideo Kojima's most standout games yet.
Death Stranding 2 Further Proves That Fragile is Only “Fragile” By Name
Once the head of Fragile Express, Fragile has now evolved her operation into Drawbridge. The company was formed to connect the rest of the world via the chiral network, and thanks to the help of the DHV Magellan crew, she and Sam are able to complete their mission. Fragile not only inspires Sam to look for meaning after the loss of Lou by joining her in Australia to expand the network, but she continues to remind him that, despite this tragedy, he is far from alone. She's a reminder that everyone is deserving of a friend that is willing to work hard to help them out of dark times, but there is even more depth to Fragile. Death Stranding 2 is filled with emotional moments, but Fragile's sacrificial journey makes her one of the story's strongest characters.
The ending twist reveals Lou is not dead, but is actually Tomorrow.
Fragile Powers Through, So Sam Can Find Meaning
At the end of Death Stranding 2, it is revealed that Fragile has actually been dead the whole time. She never survived the gunshot from Higgs, but thanks to her DOOMS, she was able to project her body into the world of the living while her Ka remained on the Beach. She hung on as long as possible in order to make sure that Sam was able to build a new life outside his grief.
Many long and arduous journeys are in need of a sacrificial lamb, and Fragile takes on the role with a calm fearlessness. Despite her knowing that she's working on borrowed time, she faces her fate head on. New characters like Neil, Tomorrow, and Rainy all bring their own unique flavors to the story, but Fragile serves as a gentle, but powerful, central figure.
Throughout the first game, Fragile's assistance was invaluable to Sam, but this time around, her role is far more profound.
While Sam is Death Stranding 2's Brawn, Fragile is its Heart
Fragile and Sam compliment each other incredibly well. While Sam's role as a Porter makes him the muscle of the operation, Fragile contrasts his gruff, silent nature by motivating and supporting both him and the rest of the crew. Because of her efforts and natural ability to connect with people, Fragile brings characters like Rainy and Tomorrow, under her wing, inspiring them to embrace their abilities instead of hiding from them.
Despite having a commanding role on the DHV Magellan, she is caring, helpful, and emotionally strong. She leads her team with compassion and encouragement, and ultimately helps Sam heal. Death Stranding 2 is packed with compelling character stories, but Fragile's layers make her stand out. She and Sam may have only had a short time together, but in that time, she continued to prove what a great support system and leader she is.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
