Summary

  • Death Stranding: Director's Cut is now available for Xbox Series X/S to celebrate the game's fifth anniversary.
  • Xbox and PC players can snag Death Stranding: Director's Cut at a 50% discount for a limited time as well.
  • Developer Kojima Productions now has full ownership of the Death Stranding IP, which could potentially impact the upcoming PS5 exclusive Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

In a surprising turn of events, the former PlayStation console exclusive Death Stranding: Director's Cut has now been released for Xbox Series X/S. Having initially launched in 2019 as a PS4 exclusive, Death Stranding has made its way to several platforms since then, such as PC, PS5, and even iPhones. An Xbox release, though, is quite unprecedented given Sony's heavy involvement in the game's development.

Although Death Stranding is the brainchild of renowned game director Hideo Kojima and his independent development studio, Kojima Productions, Sony lent a huge hand in its creation. Not only did Sony help set up Kojima Productions, but it also shared Guerrilla Games' famed Decima Engine with the studio to build Death Stranding. Interestingly, Death Stranding had a peculiar publishing agreement compared to other PlayStation second-party games, where Sony published the game on PS4 and PS5, but 505 Games published it everywhere else.

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This agreement was the reason Death Stranding showed up on PC Game Pass in 2022, and Kojima Productions has now taken the Xbox support one step further. A very recent press release from Kojima Productions and 505 Games announced that Death Stranding: Director's Cut has been shadow-dropped for Xbox Series X/S, just in time for the game's fifth anniversary. Moreover, Death Stranding: Director's Cut will retail with a 50% discount on Xbox and PC for a limited time, so interested buyers can pick it up for $19.99.

Death Stranding: Director's Cut Supports Numerous Xbox Features

  • Xbox Achievements
  • 4K resolution (likely Xbox Series X only)
  • Play Anywhere
  • Cloud saves

The official Xbox website mentions that Death Stranding will feature support for Xbox Achievements, 4K resolution, Play Anywhere, and cloud saves on Series X/S. The bonus Director's Cut content and features will also be present, such as Photo Mode, the Buddy Bot delivery companion, ultrawide monitor support, etc. Lastly, the press release notes that Kojima Productions has gained full ownership of the Death Stranding IP, which was formerly in the hands of Sony.

This is a significant development, as it means that Kojima Productions now has free rein over Death Stranding and can port the game wherever it pleases. While the original Death Stranding is already on most platforms except the Nintendo Switch, it should be interesting to see how the IP ownership affects the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The sequel is slated to release exclusively on PS5 next year, but with the Death Stranding IP now in Kojima Productions' possession, the studio can, in theory, release Death Stranding 2: On the Beach on Xbox Series X/S and PC without much trouble. Sony might have some contractual provisions against this in place, at least temporarily, but only time will tell.

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Death Stranding Tag Page Cover Art
4 /10

Death Stranding
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Action
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 79%
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Released
November 8, 2019
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Kojima Productions
Publisher(s)
Sony, 505 Games
Engine
Decima
Cross-Platform Play
Yes! Players will share the same server as Steam and Epic users
Cross Save
yes
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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From legendary game creator Hideo Kojima comes a genre-defying experience, now expanded in this definitive DIRECTOR’S CUT.

In the future, a mysterious event known as the Death Stranding has opened a doorway between the living and the dead, leading to grotesque creatures from the afterlife roaming the fallen world marred by a desolate society.

As Sam Bridges, your mission is to deliver hope to humanity by connecting the last survivors of a decimated America.

Can you reunite the shattered world, one step at a time?

DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT on PC includes HIGH FRAME RATE, PHOTO MODE and ULTRA-WIDE MONITOR SUPPORT. Also includes cross-over content from Valve Corporation’s HALF-LIFE series and CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077. Stay connected with players around the globe with the Social Strand System™.

Franchise
Death Stranding
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
Action
How Long To Beat
40 Hours
X|S Optimized
no
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
OpenCritic Rating
Strong