Kojima Confirms Death Stranding 3, But Won't Develop It

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Death Stranding series, has already conceptualized Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to bring it to life. Dive deeper into how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for multiple sequels and what the future holds for Kojima.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"

In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), disclosed that he has a concept for Death Stranding 3, yet he won't be directing it. He highlighted the "Plate Gates" feature set to be introduced in DS2, which could enable the series to explore different countries and generate endless sequels. "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels," Kojima explained.

Despite this exciting potential, Kojima firmly stated, "I, of course, don’t have any plans to do that, but I already have a concept for another sequel. I am not going to make it myself, but if I passed it on to someone else, they could probably make it." This suggests that while fans might not see a Kojima-directed Death Stranding 3, the franchise could continue with his blessing under different leadership.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also shared how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the themes of DS2. Released just before the world went into lockdown in November 2019, the first game's themes of connection and isolation resonated deeply with the ensuing global situation.

"The world was heading towards isolation and division, such as the UK leaving the EU. So I was saying, ‘Let’s connect. We’re headed for disaster if we don’t connect.’ That was the theme, story, and gameplay for Death Stranding," Kojima remarked.

He likened the game's Chiral Network to the Internet, noting how it became a lifeline during the pandemic. "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online," he added. However, he also pointed out the current divisiveness facilitated by the same technology, particularly with the rise of the metaverse and diminished real-world interactions.

Kojima reflected on the unintended consequences of connectivity: "Communication between human beings is not meant to be this way. You meet people by chance or see sights you didn’t expect to see. With the way we were headed, you would lose all of that."

This introspection led him to reconsider the themes of DS2. Originally themed around connectivity, the lockdown experience prompted him to think, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much." These reflections are woven into the narrative through one of the game's characters. The strands in the game's logos hint at these themes, with the first game embodying "Let’s Connect," and the sequel suggesting "We should not have connected." Kojima teased, "When you really start thinking about what it means to connect, you start to wonder… That’s all I’ll say for now."

More Projects To Come

While Kojima may step back from directing the next Death Stranding game, his creative journey continues with new projects. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele announced their upcoming game OD (formerly Overdose) at The Game Awards 2023, developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. "The project we’re working on with Microsoft is one I have been thinking about for five or six years already. The project required infrastructure that was never needed before, so I discussed it with lots of different big companies and gave presentations, but they really seemed to think that I was mad," Kojima shared.

Additionally, Kojima is set to collaborate with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This new title will be an original IP, marking a significant milestone in Kojima's career. "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work," he stated. Development on this game will commence after the completion of DS2.

Although these new projects are on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for more from Kojima, as Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Keep up with the latest updates on the game in our dedicated article below!