Kojima Denies Making Death Stranding 3 Despite Its Existence

Hideo Kojima already has an idea for Death Stranding 3, but he will not work on it. Read on to learn more about how Death Stranding 2 could produce multiple sequels and what’s in store for Kojima’s future.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"

Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed that he already has an idea for what Death Stranding 3 could be, but he won't be the one to bring it to life. In a recent interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima explained that a concept introduced in DS2, the "Plate Gates," could pave the way for numerous sequels. These "Plate Gates" would allow the series to explore different countries, potentially leading to endless sequels. Kojima stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

However, he quickly clarified that he has no plans to personally work on a Death Stranding 3. He added, "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 means that while fans might not see a Kojima-directed sequel, other developers could take the reins with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also shared how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The original game, released in November 2019, was crafted with the theme of connectivity and unity, reflecting the world's trajectory towards isolation and division, such as Brexit. 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 onset of the pandemic, which mirrored the game's narrative, underscored the importance of the Chiral Network—a concept akin to the Internet. Kojima elaborated, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also acknowledged the downside, pointing out how the Internet now fosters division and a shift towards the metaverse, diminishing real human interaction. He emphasized, "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."

The lockdown experience led Kojima to reconsider the theme of connectivity. He questioned, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," which is reflected in one of DS2's characters. The strands in the game's logos hint at their themes: the first game's concept was "Let’s Connect," while the sequel suggests "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

Despite stepping away from leading Death Stranding 3, Kojima remains busy with other exciting projects. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele unveiled their new game, OD (formerly known as Overdose), at The Game Awards 2023, in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. 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 work 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, marking a significant milestone as Kojima celebrates his 40th anniversary in game production. He stated, "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 game will begin once DS2 is completed.

While these projects are still on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, scheduled for June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more updates on DS2 and Kojima's future endeavors by checking out our dedicated article below!