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

Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Death Stranding series, has already conceived an idea for Death Stranding 3 (DS3), but he has confirmed that he will not be directing it. Dive deeper into how Death Stranding 2 (DS2) might spawn numerous sequels and what the future holds for Kojima's creative endeavors.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2, shared that while he has a concept for DS3, he won't be the one to bring it to life. He introduced the "Plate Gates" in DS2, a feature that could facilitate the series' expansion into different countries, paving the way for endless sequels. Kojima explained, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

However, he quickly clarified his stance on DS3, stating, "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 DS3 might see the light of day, it won't be under Kojima's direct supervision, leaving room for other developers to take the helm with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the thematic direction of DS2. Released just before the global lockdown in November 2019, the original Death Stranding emphasized connectivity amidst a world veering towards isolation. Kojima noted, "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 narrative, highlighting the vital role of the Chiral Network, akin to the Internet in real life. Kojima remarked, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also acknowledged the Internet's role in fostering division and the growing trend towards the metaverse, which he believes detracts from genuine human interaction.

Kojima shared that the lockdown experience led him to reconsider connectivity's impact, stating, "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."

Consequently, he revisited DS2's concept, pondering if excessive connectivity might be harmful. This shift in perspective is reflected through one of the game's characters. Kojima hinted at the thematic differences between the games by pointing out the strands in their logos: "Let’s Connect" for the first game and "We should not have connected" for the sequel. He 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

Despite stepping back from DS3, Kojima Productions is far from slowing down. In December 2023, Kojima and filmmaker Jordan Peele announced their new game, OD (formerly Overdose), in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios at The Game Awards 2023. Kojima revealed, "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 develop a "next-generation action espionage game" with PlayStation, announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This new IP will mark a significant milestone as Kojima celebrates the 40th anniversary of his game production career. He stated, "I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." Development will commence once DS2 is complete.

While these future projects are still on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for new content from Kojima. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more updates and insights by checking out our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!