Death Stranding 2: On the Beach continues the story of Sam Porter Bridges as he continues on his journey of connecting the world beyond just the UCA. With BTs and human enemies alike to take care of, players will need to carefully plan out their routes as they carry cargo from one destination to the next and unfold the wild story that creator Hideo Kojima has crafted. Unsurprisingly, the game looks absolutely stunning on both the PS5 and PS5 Pro, but some players may be wondering what the best graphics mode is for Death Stranding 2.
In this guide, I'll explain which is the best option for both PS5 systems and what framerate and resolution players can expect in each one, among other minor details.
Should You Play Death Stranding 1 Before Playing DS2?
Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding universe is pretty complex and narratively dense. So, should players play Death Stranding 1 before its sequel?
Should You Choose Performance or Quality Graphics Mode in Death Stranding 2 on PS5 Pro?
An Easy Choice for PS5 Pro Owners
If you're playing Death Stranding 2 on a PS5 Pro, then you should choose the 'Performance' graphics mode. This is because the differences between 'Quality' and 'Performance' modes on the supercharged system are so minimal that players will barely notice a difference in terms of the picture quality between the two. As such, opting for the 'Performance' mode doubles the framerate from 'Quality' mode's 30 frames per second (FPS) up to 60 FPS, and will ensure that when the action does get a bit hectic on-screen, the framerate will always be prioritized.
Using 'Performance' mode on both the standard PS5 and PS5 Pro can make the game run at 120 Hz as long as the console is connected to a compatible display. This helps reduce input latency and makes for smoother motion stability as Sam traverses different terrain.
What's the Best Death Stranding 2 Graphics Mode on PS5?
The Decision Comes Down to Player Preference
If you're playing the game on a base PS5 console, then the differences are a little clearer. By choosing the 'Performance' mode, players will get a largely solid 60 FPS throughout their entire experience, but this will come at the cost of some visual fidelity. In Performance mode, the game will run at a 1440p resolution, so details can look a little softer, and some general artifacting.
If playing in 'Quality' mode, the framerate will be dropped to 30 FPS, but the visual fidelity of the game is noticeably better in some scenes. With the reduced framerate, the action isn't quite as smooth, and this can be a bit distracting to some players. In my experience, the game still looks very impressive in 'Performance' mode, and I prefer the smoother framerate, so I've opted to play the majority of the game in this graphics mode.
Ultimately, the decision on the best Death Stranding 2 graphics mode on base PS5 is down to player preference. If you want to see this lengthy game at its very best and don't mind a lower framerate, then 'Quality' mode is the way to go. However, if you prefer a smoother 60 FPS framerate at the expense of slightly worse visuals, then go for the 'Performance' mode.
How to Change Graphics Modes in Death Stranding 2
- Press the Options button.
- Go to the 'Options' mode at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar (or access 'Options' from the main menu).
- Use R1 to tab over the 'Graphics Settings' (second from the end).
- Go to the 'Graphics Mode' tab, and toggle between 'Prioritize Performance' and 'Prioritize Quality'
Credit to Digital Foundry for their deep dive into the game's performance.
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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
