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

Hideo Kojima has a vision for 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 lies ahead in Kojima's creative journey.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed that he already has a concept for Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to develop it. In a recent interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima shared that a feature from DS2, known as the "Plate Gates," could lead to numerous sequels. These gates will allow the series to explore different countries, opening up endless storytelling possibilities. Kojima stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

However, he quickly clarified that he has no intention of working on Death Stranding 3 himself. He added, "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." While fans may not see a Kojima-directed sequel soon, other developers might carry on his vision if given the opportunity.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The original Death Stranding was released in November 2019, just before the world went into lockdown. Kojima explained, "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."

The pandemic mirrored the game's core message about connectivity, with the Chiral Network in the game likened to the real-world Internet. Kojima noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also pointed out the downside, as the Internet now contributes to human division. He observed a shift towards the metaverse, where people increasingly interact through screens, reducing genuine human connections.

Kojima reflected, "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 realization led him to reconsider DS2's narrative. He questioned, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," and this introspection is reflected in one of the game's characters.

The strands in the game's logos hint at their themes: the first game's logo symbolized "Let’s Connect," while DS2's suggests "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

Even though Kojima may not helm the next Death Stranding game, his creative output will continue to flourish. In December 2023, alongside Jordan Peele, he unveiled their upcoming game OD (formerly Overdose) at The Game Awards 2023, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. Kojima shared, "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."

Additionally, Kojima is teaming up with PlayStation for a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this will be a brand-new original IP. Reflecting on his career, Kojima said, "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." Development will begin once DS2 is completed.

While these projects are on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for new content as DS2 approaches its release. Kojima recently discussed the game's release date in light of other companies' reactions to GTA 6's delay.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Stay updated with the latest news on the game by checking out our Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!