At this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, renowned game designer Hideo Kojima unveiled plenty of details about his next hotly anticipated title, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The original Death Stranding, released in 2019, was a groundbreaking title blending innovative gameplay, a hauntingly beautiful world, and an emotional narrative about human connection.
Fast forward to SXSW 2025, where Kojima, alongside lead actors Norman Reedus and Troy Baker with musician Woodkid, shared their insights on the sequel. The panel provided a new, extended look at the game, its release date, various editions, and an accompanying concert series. Let’s delve into all the details shared about one of 2025’s most anticipated titles.
Death Stranding 2 launch date and editions
Mark your calendars: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch on June 26th, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Pre-orders will begin on March 17th, 2025, offering a choice between a few different editions, each with a different set of content:
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Standard Edition
The first option is theStandard Edition, which includes the base game and in-game pre-order bonuses. Regardless of which edition you preorder, you’ll be entitled to a few in-game bonuses, each of which is listed below, while supplies last:
- Custom Hologram: Quokka early unlock.
- Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Collector’s Edition
If you are looking for the ultimate Death Stranding 2 experience, the Collector’s Edition comes packed with physical and digital content. It’s a treasure trove for fans, featuring a 15-inch “Magellan Man” statue, a 3-inch Dollman figurine, art cards, a letter from Kojima, and all Digital Deluxe content. The digital content includes:
- Full Game Digital Download
- 48-hour Early Access to the game
- Collector’s Box
- 15-inch Magellan Man Statue
- 3-inch Dollman figurine
- Art cards
- Letter from Hideo Kojima
- A collection of in-game items
- Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
- Battle Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Quokka Patch
- Chiral Feline Patch
- Why Me? Patch
Pre-order Death Stranding 2 Collector’s Edition
New Death Stranding 2 trailer and screenshots
The highlight of the panel was the debut of a 10-minute trailer, offering a deeper look into the game’s narrative and gameplay. Returning protagonist Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, embarks on a new journey filled with otherworldly challenges and philosophical questions about connection. As the enemies and challenges mount in the trailer, a new tagline was presented, “We Should Not Have Connected.” This contrasts with the original game’s emphasis on creating connections to ensure humanity’s survival. The sequel looks to delve into the complexities and potential downsides of such interconnectedness. I am excited to explore the new themes in the game and unravel the mysteries Kojima has created.
Incredible visual fidelity
The extended trailer showcases gameplay clips mixed with what appears to be in-engine cutscenes. The world is stunning, with breathtaking graphics highlighting Hideo Kojima’s signature attention to detail. Some settings resemble a sci-fi fever dream, with gravity-defying structures and other elements that beg to be explored. The environments have plenty of variety, including wintry scenes, abandoned urban spaces, and lush greenery. Character design continues to be a highlight, with distinctive and intriguing designs hinting at their unique roles within the narrative. From the interesting to the absurd, I can’t wait to learn how they fit into the world.
Haunting places new faces
Familiar characters like Sam (Norman Reedus) and Fragile (Léa Seydoux) return, while new faces such as Neil, played by Luca Marinelli, had more screen time. Neil’s design has sparked comparisons to Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid. As a big fan of both franchises, I was excited to see the reference. Gameplay elements appear to expand on the original’s unique mechanics. There is also more emphasis on gunplay and exploration in vast, surreal landscapes. The trailer also hints at deeper narrative layers with cryptic voiceovers and symbolic imagery. I can’t wait to unravel the mysteries of this sequel.
The Strands of Harmony Concert Series
In a unique celebration of the franchise’s music, Kojima Productions announced the Strands of Harmony concert series. This global tour, starting on November 8, 2025, will feature live orchestral performances of music from both Death Stranding games. The tour will visit 19 cities worldwide, including iconic venues like the Sydney Opera House and Canadian stops in Toronto and Montreal.
Final Thoughts on Death Stranding 2’s latest look
The Death Stranding 2: On the Beach panel at SXSW is an exciting showcase of what is to come. From the new trailer teeming with detailed visuals and intriguing gameplay mechanics to the deeper look at characters like Neil and the cryptic messages, I can’t wait to unravel the sequel’s more complex themes. With its June release date and the Strands of Harmony global concert series right around the corner, there’s so much for fans to look forward to. I couldn’t be more excited about this next chapter, and I’m sure other fans will feel the same—are you excited for Death Stranding 2? Let us know in the comments below!
While we count down the days to Death Stranding 2’s launch, be sure to pre-order your copy today and check out the wide array of video games at bestbuy.ca.
