Summary
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach presents a potentially altered version of Sam, tied to the mysterious nature of the Beach.
- The sequel may explore parallel versions of Sam due to his unique connection to the metaphysical realm between life and death.
- Sam's return to action in Death Stranding 2 seems contradictory to his isolated ending in the first game, hinting at a different identity.
Death Stranding is by far one of Hideo Kojima's weirdest creations, but it is also one of his most compelling, as it offers players a world and gameplay loop unlike anything ever experienced before in a video game. Now, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is expected to be just as abnormal, to the point that the footage shown so far for the game seems to indicate that fans may be seeing a different version of Sam Porter Bridges than they encountered in the first game.
Hideo Kojima is known for subverting expectations and playing with identity, perception, and continuity, so there are multiple ways in which Death Stranding 2's Sam might be different from the one players knew before. That being said, the fact that Death Stranding 2's subtitle is "On the Beach" suggests that Sam's potentially different identity in the sequel could be directly tied to the nature of the Beach itself. If that isn't the case, there's also the fact that Sam opted for a life of isolation with Lou at the end of Death Stranding, and yet he is now back in the action for some reason.
What Death Stranding 2's Subtitle Could Mean for Its Story and Gameplay
Death Stranding 2's "On the Beach" subtitle carries some weighty implications for its story and gameplay, beyond what has already been made plain.
Death Stranding 2's Sam Might Not Be the Same
Death Stranding 2 Could Explore Parallel Versions of Sam
While there are certainly plenty of mysterious elements to Death Stranding lore, one of its most mysterious is arguably the nature of the Beach. Death Stranding delves into the nature of the Beach a bit, describing it as a metaphysical realm that exists between life and death — a purgatory of sorts where souls pass through before moving on to the afterlife. Additionally, every person has their own Beach that reflects their personal thoughts, emotions, and experiences. However, certain people called "Repatriates," like Sam Porter Bridges, have a unique connection to the Beach, allowing them to return from death.
The Beach is a place where souls exist separately from the body, and since Sam has died multiple times and always comes back, it's possible that his returns aren't always flawless. If Sam's soul and body somehow became separated upon his return, the Sam in Death Stranding 2 could actually be an entirely different version of him that was reconstructed, possibly missing memories or having his personality altered in some way. This would especially make sense, as the Sam in Death Stranding 2's teaser trailer is much older and looks weary, and the fact that he even seems confused about what is happening is another strong indicator that he is a parallel version of the Sam fans knew from the first game.
Hideo Kojima is known for subverting expectations and playing with identity, perception, and continuity, so there are multiple ways in which Death Stranding 2's Sam might be different from the one players knew before.
What is even more interesting is that the Sam in the teaser trailer has white hair and appears older, whereas the Sam in the 2024 State of Play trailer for Death Stranding 2 has the same brown hair that he had in the first game. The simplest answer for Sam's aging is the effects of Timefall, but that also seems a bit too obvious for a mind like Hideo Kojima's. It could also be that the Sam who appeared in the game's teaser trailer is still the same Sam and the scene in the trailer is simply in the future. Perhaps Death Stranding 2's story will be told in a flashback fashion, hence the different hair colors. However, again, that just seems too simple.
It Doesn't Make Sense for Sam to Be Back in the Action
At the end of Death Stranding, Sam finally freed himself from the UCA and chose a life of isolation with Lou. However, the trailers for Death Stranding 2 suggest he is now back in the game for some reason. If Sam had truly cut ties with the UCA, it wouldn't make sense for him to be called back into action — unless, of course, he is a different Sam.
It could be that the older Sam featured in Death Stranding 2's teaser trailer is the Sam players knew from the first game, and he is summoned after certain events have transpired with the younger-looking version of Sam shown in the State of Play trailer. In any case, time will tell whether Death Stranding fans are being thrown for a loop by what has been revealed so far or whether there truly are multiple versions of Sam traipsing around in the world of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
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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
