Clues that Death Stranding’s unrecognizable map of America and linking them into a wireless communication network. Along with Reedus, other Hollywood actors and celebrities made appearances in Death Stranding, and rumors have pointed to the possibility of other familiar faces (or their motion-cap renderings) appearing in the sequel. A brief review of what is known for certain about Death Stranding 2, what is hinted at, and what is hoped for can help bring Kojima watchers up-to-date on the status of his latest project.
Death Stranding 2 Rumors, Slow At First, Have Intensified
Hideo Kojima, creator of cinematic games like Death Stranding and the Metal Gear series, among other titles, is often described as an auteur of video games, because of his enigmatic style and the artistic vision he brings to creating playable worlds. Judging from the leaks surrounding his latest project, Kojima might also be described as an auteur of hype, for the masterful way he has built interest around and enthusiasm for his games without actually confirming anything. This is clear from his handling of the Reedus “leaks,” which may not even have been leaks so much as carefully scripted reveals orchestrated by Kojima himself.
For example, following Reedus’ comment in an interview with men’s lifestyle site Kojima's humorous tweet addressed Death Stranding 2 by telling Reedus to go to his “private room,” a reference to Death Stranding’s safe rooms. The playfulness of Kojima’s response (which included a photo of himself threatening Reedus with a Negan-esque, wire-wrapped baseball bat à la The Walking Dead) suggested to some observers that rather than an accidental slip, Reedus’s leak might have been a coordinated effort on the part of the game’s creator. Kojima added fuel to the fire of speculation surrounding Death Stranding 2 at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2022, where a QR code at the Kojima Productions booth linked to a poster containing several Death Stranding symbolic references and a woman’s silhouette overwritten by the words “Who am I?”
Subsequently, on Twitter, actors to appear in a Death Stranding sequel. This was confirmed soon after at the PAX Australia event by Game Awards host Geoff Keighly, who tweeted that Fanning would indeed appear in an Kojima game. Based on the poster and Kojima’s subsequent remarks, many observers believe this game to be Death Stranding 2.
Leaked Document Suggests Death Stranding 2 Is Codenamed Ocean
In late September 2022, a private document from Sony Interactive Entertainment was leaked on ResetEra by Death Stranding 2, Kojima's next game. According to Insider Gaming, Dusk Golem has a track record for reliable leaks in the horror genre, so while some have questioned the authenticity of the leaked document, there are reasons to believe in its accuracy.
In the statement on ResetEra, Dusk Golem stated definitively that Death Stranding 2 is in development and that its internal codename is Ocean. They went on to assert that the game is part of a standing deal between Kojima and Sony and that any reports suggesting otherwise or mentioning other parties should be rejected. This comment is apparently a reference to another rumor claiming Death Stranding 2 is the game Kojima is making for Xbox, which is suspected to be codenamed or titled Overdose. However, given that Sony owns the trademarks on Death Stranding (this again per Insider Gaming), it is highly unlikely it would have ever allowed Kojima to make a sequel exclusively for Microsoft.
In the end, observers hungry for facts are left with little more than rumors and teasers. Death Stranding 2 seems like a sure thing, based on the hints dropped by Reedus, Keighley, and Kojima himself, dating back over a year, and the recent document leak is just one more piece of the puzzle. But none of this is confirmed, and even the existence of Kojima’s Death Stranding 2 concept art doesn’t guarantee a sequel is underway. Kojima’s next project might be something else entirely, with rumors of a successor to his older work called Silent Hills also circulating. The truthfulness and reliability of these claims, of course, will be proven in due time. For now, Death Stranding fans will have to continue to read the tea leaves, hoping for something definitive about the game’s possible sequel.
Sources: Leo Edit, Hideo Kojima/Twitter (1, 2), Arubedo/ResetEra, Dusk Golem/ResetEra, Insider Gaming