Kojima Denies Making Death Stranding 3 Despite Its Existence

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Death Stranding series, has already conceptualized Death Stranding 3, yet he has confirmed that he will not be directing it. Delve into how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for numerous sequels and what lies ahead in Kojima's creative journey.

Death Stranding 2 Paves the Way for "Endless Sequels"

In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), disclosed his idea for Death Stranding 3. However, he clarified that he would not be the one to bring this sequel to life. He hinted at the potential for endless sequels by introducing the "Plate Gates" in DS2, which could allow the series to explore different countries. Kojima stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels." Despite this exciting prospect, he 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 suggests that while fans may not see a Kojima-directed sequel soon, other developers might carry the torch with his blessing.

The Pandemic Influenced Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also shared how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the narrative of DS2. The original Death Stranding was released in November 2019, shortly before the world faced widespread lockdowns. Reflecting on the game's themes, Kojima remarked, "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."

He drew parallels between the game's Chiral Network and the real-world Internet, noting, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also highlighted the paradox of connectivity, pointing out that the same Internet fostering connection now contributes to division. Kojima observed a shift towards the metaverse and less physical interaction, saying, "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 prompted Kojima to reconsider DS2's original direction. He mused, "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 signify their themes; the first game's "Let’s Connect" contrasts with the sequel's "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 on the Horizon

Despite stepping away from Death Stranding 3, Kojima's creative output remains robust. In December 2023, he unveiled OD (formerly Overdose) with filmmaker Jordan Peele at The Game Awards 2023, developed in partnership with Microsoft Game Studios. Kojima explained, "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 collaborating with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation's State of Play in January 2024. This new IP marks a significant milestone as Kojima celebrates his 40th anniversary in game production, stating, "I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." Development will commence once DS2 is completed.

While these projects are on the horizon, fans can look forward to Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, set to release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our detailed article on Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.