Death Stranding 2 Set for 2025 Release; New Trailer Debuts at SXSW

Hideo Kojima, the renowned game director and founder of Kojima Productions, announced an exciting release date for “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” during a panel at SXSW 2025. Mark your calendars for June 26, as the game will be available exclusively on PlayStation 5. Fans were treated to an intriguing new trailer that spans a whole 10 minutes, revealing what’s in store for this much-anticipated sequel.

The trailer gave a fresh glimpse of “Death Stranding 2,” revisiting old friends and introducing some captivating new faces. Norman Reedus returns as Sam Bridges, continuing his journey as the courier hero in this enigmatic world. Fans will also recognize Léa Seydoux reprising her role as Fragile and Troy Baker as Higgs. Joining them are newcomers Elle Fanning as Tomorrow, Shioli Kutsuna as Rainy, and George Miller taking on the role of Tarman. We’ll also see Luca Marinelli as Neil, Debra Wilson portraying Doctor, and Alissa Jung as Lucy. There’s even a special appearance by Korean action star Lee Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee.

Keen-eyed viewers might catch a few nods to Kojima’s legendary Metal Gear Solid series embedded within the trailer. At one point, Marinelli’s character, Neil, bears a striking resemblance to Solid Snake. Meanwhile, the enormous tar creature merging with the DHV Magellan conjures memories of Metal Gear Rex or Sahelanthropus. All these elements combine to deliver plenty of thrilling gameplay sequences and story teasers for fans to dissect.

Set 11 months after the establishment of the United Cities of America, “Death Stranding 2” thrusts players into a world where servers line the beaches and deliveries are now fully automated. This new reality seemingly sidelines porters like Sam. Yet, the enigmatic chiralium from the Beach continues to alter the land (and even the cats!), as a mysterious new faction begins to rise. Despite these changes, Sam’s determination to complete his mission remains unwavering.

In the game’s initial trailer unveiled at 2022’s The Game Awards, Kojima revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led him to rework the script. This sequel promises to navigate through a post-apocalyptic America, where black, inky creatures known as Beached Things lurk. A subsequent 10-minute trailer during a State of Play stream last year showed the disbandment of the delivery company Bridges, replaced by a new entity called Drawbridge. True to Kojima’s style, the plot remains shrouded in mystery.

“Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” already has players eagerly seeking answers and piecing together the puzzle. With Kojima at the helm, it’s bound to be an unforgettable journey.