Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Kojima Productions, announced that “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” is set to launch on June 26 exclusively for the PlayStation 5. This exciting news dropped on Sunday during a panel session at SXSW 2025, where Kojima also unveiled an extensive new trailer for the game.
This 10-minute glimpse into the game showcases some familiar characters as well as introduces a few new ones. Fans will welcome back Norman Reedus, who reprises his role as Sam Bridges, the courier hero of this peculiar tale. Léa Seydoux returns as Fragile, and Troy Baker once again assumes the role of Higgs. Joining the ensemble are Elle Fanning, portraying a character named “Tomorrow,” Shioli Kutsuna as “Rainy,” and George Miller bringing “Tarman” to life. Additionally, new faces such as Luca Marinelli as Neil, Debra Wilson as Doctor, and Alissa Jung as Lucy add to the rich cast.
The latest trailer has sparked intrigue with some elements nodding to Kojima’s iconic Metal Gear Solid series. At one point, Marinelli’s Neil bears a striking resemblance to Solid Snake. Meanwhile, the massive tar creature that fuses with the DHV Magellan, forming what’s known as the Magellan Man, echoes the Metal Gear Rex/Sahelanthropus vibe. For fans of Death Stranding, there’s plenty of gameplay action and storyline hints to digest.
In an earlier reveal during The Game Awards back in 2022, Kojima shared that the COVID-19 pandemic had influenced him to revisit and rework the script. The upcoming game picks up where the original left off, taking players once more through a post-apocalyptic America besieged by mysterious, inky black creatures known as Beached Things.
As showcased in a State of Play stream last year, the once prominent delivery company Bridges has collapsed, paving the way for a new organization named Drawbridge. However, as is typical with Kojima’s creations, much of the narrative remains shrouded in mystery.
