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

Hideo Kojima has an intriguing concept for Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to bring it to life. Dive into the details of 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 visionary behind Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed that he already has a concept for Death Stranding 3. However, in an interview with VGC on May 8, he made it clear that he won't be directing it. Kojima mentioned that a feature from DS2, the "Plate Gates," could enable the series to explore different countries and potentially spawn endless sequels. He stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

Despite this exciting possibility, 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 means fans won't see a Kojima-directed Death Stranding 3, but the door is open for other developers to take the helm with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the thematic direction of DS2. Released just before the world went into lockdown in November 2019, the original Death Stranding focused on connectivity. 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 emphasis on the Chiral Network, which Kojima likened to the Internet. He noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also pointed out the downside, saying, "The same Internet is now the cause of division for humanity," as people increasingly turn to the metaverse and reduce real-life interactions.

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 led him to reconsider the theme of DS2, shifting from "Let’s Connect" to "We should not have connected." He hinted at this shift through the game's logos, stating, "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 not lead the next Death Stranding game, his creative endeavors continue to expand. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele unveiled their new project, 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 set to work with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This will be a brand-new original IP, marking a significant milestone as Kojima celebrates his 40th anniversary in game production. He expressed, "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." The development of this game will commence once DS2 is completed.

While these projects are on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, set for June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Stay updated with the latest on the game by checking out our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!