Death Stranding 2 came out swinging at SXSW this week, as Hide Kojima's dedicated panel brought an in-depth 10-minute look into the upcoming sequel. From a release date to wild features, Death Stranding 2 is promising fans a larger-than-life story that already feels far more mind-bending than its predecessor.
Despite this preview being one of the most significant looks into Death Stranding 2 yet, Kojima's selection of footage showcased at SXSW once again raises more questions than presents answers. Hideo Kojima has a knack for sneak peeks, and one of the most intriguing teases is Heartman's newfound use of a mech tar monster suit. The concept is baffling, but if Death Stranding is anything, it's an unapologetic showcase of the Kojima Productions team's imagination. It hints that the sequel is set to have some kind of Pacific Rim-inspired twist, that could make it an exciting game for fans of the series to jump into.
Why Death Stranding 2's Sam Might Not Be the Same Sam From the First Game
There is plenty of evidence to show that the Sam players knew from the first Death Stranding may not be the same in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Death Stranding 2 Brings a Pacific Rim-Inspired Feature to its Strange World
Heartman is Brought Into Action
- In the new Death Stranding 2 trailer, Heartman can be seen remotely piloting a tar monster at the nine-and-a-half minute mark.
A central location in Death Stranding 2 appears to be the DHV Magellan. Originally theorized to be a ship that traverses through tar, it seems to be a multi-use vehicle. In one of the final clips of the trailer, Heartman can be seen at an undisclosed remote location as he says, "DHV Magellan, integrate." This command causes a massive, humanoid and headless tar monster to place the ship where its head would be. After the DHV Magellan is set in place, the tar monstrosity squares up against another monster, preparing for a fight. It's one of the wildest moments featured throughout the trailer, and that's saying a lot.
Both the room Heartman is in and the command to "integrate" are incredibly reminiscent of Pacific Rim. Considering that Hideo Kojima and Pacific Rim creator Guillermo del Toro worked together on the first Death Stranding, it's not too outlandish to assume that the former is a fan of these mech-focused films. This time around, though, the tech-heavy appearance of mech suits has been given a Kojima-style shake-up. The giant, bipedal tar monsters in Death Stranding 2 are far more organic, which is an exciting change from the usual mech formula.
Death Stranding 2 is promising fans a larger-than-life story that already feels far more mind-bending than its predecessor.
The blend of an organic-looking lifeform with a large metal head via the DHV Magellan is a really fascinating contrast that will be compelling to see more of once the game launches. Death Stranding's knack for strangeness made it a standout back in 2019, even if it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. The sequel seems ready to kick the strangeness up to new levels, which is bound to be exciting for gamers who loved the first chapter.
Preorders for Death Stranding 2 start on March 17.
The Wait For Death Stranding 2 is Almost Over
- Death Stranding 2 launches on June 26, 2025. Those who purchase either the Digital Deluxe Edition or the Collector's Edition get two days early access on June 24.
- Death Stranding 2 is launching exclusively on PS5.
There are now only a few months away until Death Stranding 2 hits the scene. While the game is launching exclusively on PS5, the first Death Stranding finally came to Xbox last year, so the sequel will hopefully follow suit sooner, rather than later.
Now that there is an official release date set in stone, Death Stranding fans can finally look forward to seeing how the post-apocalyptic setting of the first game has evolved. It's unclear how big of a role tar mechs will be in Death Stranding 2, but it's bound to be a thrilling moment in the game.
-
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
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam—with companions by his side—sets out on a new journey to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they traverse a world beset by otherworldly enemies, obstacles and a haunting question: should we have connected? Step by step, legendary game creator Hideo Kojima changes the world once again.
- Engine
- Decima
- Franchise
- Death Stranding
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
- June 26, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
