Hideo Kojima, the visionary game designer, returned to the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) after a five-year hiatus, captivating fans with a 90-minute stage event dedicated to ‘Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.’ The highly anticipated sequel, set for release in 2025, was the focus of the presentation, offering a glimpse into the game’s compelling characters, captivating voice acting, and innovative gameplay features.
Kojima, alongside a star-studded cast including singer-songwriter Daichi Miura and voice actors Kenjiro Tsuda, Nana Mizuki, Tomokazu Sugita, and Shion Wakayama, unveiled the Japanese voice cast for the sequel. Fans were excited to hear that Tsuda and Mizuki will reprise their roles as Sam and Fragile, respectively. Sugita, known for his dynamic voice work, will lend his talents to Dollman, a small yet significant character seen interacting with Sam. The appearance of Wakayama, recent winner of the Best New Actor award at the 2023 Seiyu Awards, introduced Tomorrow, a character inspired by actress Elle Fanning.
A preview of the game showed Tomorrow engaging in a conversation with Rainy, played by Shioli Kutsuna, who expressed her admiration for Kojima in a pre-recorded video message. “I had never experienced a shoot like this before,” Kutsuna stated.
Kojima showcased the game’s new photo mode, a feature that allows players to interact with characters like Fragile, Tomorrow, and Sunny in a more engaging manner. “You can create Polaroid-like images of these moments,” Kojima explained. The demo featured Dollman dancing alongside Sam, as players enjoyed the ability to manipulate camera angles in real time.
In addition to gameplay features, Kojima revealed plans for exclusive merchandise, designed in collaboration with renowned designer Errolson Hugh and artist Yoji Shinkawa. The new ‘Death Stranding’ jackets, retailing at approximately $1,749 (248,600 yen), will cater to both fans and characters in the game. A pop-up shop is also set to open at PARCO Shibuya in Tokyo on Nov. 8, celebrating the fifth anniversary of the original game’s launch.
While the excitement surrounding the game’s features was palpable, Kojima kept fans in the dark regarding the release date. While he confirmed that principal photography was completed in May, he noted that the game’s development is only “30 to 40% complete.” Kojima hinted at an internal release date but declined to disclose it, citing “unforeseen circumstances” that prevent him from sharing specific details at this time. “I haven’t said the release date today, but the release date has already been decided, and I’m currently working on it in preparation for that,” Kojima stated. He promised fans that more information would be revealed “at some point next year.”
