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

Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Death Stranding series, has an intriguing idea for Death Stranding 3, but he has made it clear that he will not be at the helm of its development. Dive into the details of how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for multiple sequels and what the future holds for Kojima's creative endeavors.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

In a recent interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), shared that he already has a concept for what Death Stranding 3 could be. However, he emphasized that he would not be the one to bring this vision to life. He mentioned the innovative "Plate Gates" introduced in DS2, which could potentially allow the series to explore different countries and spawn numerous sequels. Kojima stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels." Despite this potential, 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 might not see a Kojima-directed sequel anytime soon, the franchise could continue under the guidance of another developer, with Kojima's blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also shed light on how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The original Death Stranding game, released in November 2019, focused on the theme of connectivity, urging players to connect in a world heading towards isolation and division. Kojima reflected, "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 onset of the pandemic mirrored the game's narrative, emphasizing the importance of 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 paradox of connectivity, as the same Internet that brought people together during the crisis is now causing division. Kojima observed a shift towards the metaverse, where people are increasingly isolated behind screens, losing the serendipity of real-life interactions. He remarked, "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 Kojima to reconsider the theme of DS2. He questioned the value of excessive connectivity, stating, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much." This introspection is reflected in one of the game's characters and the evolving narrative. The strands in the game's logos serve as thematic hints, with the first game symbolizing "Let’s Connect," and the sequel suggesting "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

While Kojima may not lead the development of Death Stranding 3, he is far from slowing down. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele unveiled their new project, OD (formerly known as Overdose), at The Game Awards 2023. This game, developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios, represents a project Kojima has been contemplating for five to six years. He 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 set to collaborate with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this game will be a brand-new original IP. Kojima sees this as a full-circle moment in his career, stating, "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 new game will commence once DS2 is completed.

Although these upcoming projects are still on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for new content from Kojima, as Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated sequel by checking out our comprehensive Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!