Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Kojima Productions, announced this Sunday at a SXSW 2025 panel that the much-anticipated “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” will be launching on June 26 for PlayStation 5. To make the announcement even more thrilling, he unveiled a lengthy trailer packed with tantalizing glimpses of what’s to come.
In this fresh 10-minute peek, fans were treated to familiar faces alongside some intriguing new ones. The sequel, building on the enigmatic 2019 action game, sees Norman Reedus reprising his role as the intrepid Sam Bridges. Joining him again are Léa Seydoux and Troy Baker, returning as Fragile and Higgs. However, the story widens its scope with the introduction of Elle Fanning as Tomorrow, Shioli Kutsuna as Rainy, and George Miller as Tarman. Adding to this rich tapestry of characters are Luca Marinelli playing Neil, Debra Wilson taking on the role of Doctor, and Alissa Jung portraying Lucy. Not to mention, a special appearance by Korea’s action star Lee Dong-seok, known to many as Don Lee.
As the trailer unfolds, eagle-eyed fans might spot some subtle nods to Kojima’s iconic Metal Gear Solid series. There’s a moment where Marinelli’s character, Neil, seems to channel the essence of Solid Snake, and the monstrous tar entity merging with the DHV Magellan—transforming into what Kojima dubs the Magellan Man—evokes memories of Metal Gear’s titanic mechs like Rex and Sahelanthropus. For Death Stranding devotees, there are plenty of cryptic story elements and intense gameplay sequences to dissect and speculate about.
This installment picks up 11 months after the establishment of the United Cities of America. A seaside lined with servers hints at a world where deliveries are now automated, posing a threat to the livelihoods of porters like Sam. Meanwhile, the mysterious Chiralium continues to alter the landscape—and even the cats—while a new faction spreads its wings of influence. Nevertheless, it’s clear that nothing will deter Sam from his mission.
Reflecting on the initial hints from the first trailer at The Game Awards in 2022, Kojima revealed that the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 inspired him to shake up the script. This narrative continues the post-apocalyptic trek across an America plagued by ominous creatures known as Beached Things.
In a follow-up teaser from last year’s State of Play stream, it was revealed that the Bridges company has vanished, giving way to a new entity called Drawbridge. As with every Kojima project, the finer details remain steeped in mystery, leaving fans eager for answers.
