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

Hideo Kojima has already conceptualized Death Stranding 3, but he will not be at the helm of its development. Dive deeper into how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for multiple sequels and what Hideo Kojima has planned for the future.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

In a recent interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), unveiled that he has an idea for what Death Stranding 3 might entail. However, he will not be the one to bring it to life. Kojima mentioned a concept from DS2 called "Plate Gates," which could allow the series to explore different countries and potentially generate endless sequels. He stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

Despite this intriguing possibility, Kojima was clear about his intentions: "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 fans may not see a Kojima-directed sequel, the series could continue with the blessing and guidance of its creator.

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 Death Stranding was released in November 2019, just before the world entered lockdown. Kojima explained, "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, according to Kojima, mirrored the game's narrative with its emphasis on the Chiral Network, likening it to the Internet's role during the global crisis. He noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also observed that the same Internet now fosters division, with people increasingly retreating into virtual spaces like the metaverse, reducing real-life human interactions.

Kojima reflected on this shift, 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." This realization prompted him to reconsider the theme of DS2, leading him to question the value of hyper-connectivity. He hinted at this change through the game’s logo strands, with the first game symbolizing "Let’s Connect," and the sequel suggesting "We should not have connected."

More Projects To Come

Despite stepping away from directing Death Stranding 3, Kojima is far from slowing down. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele announced their new game, OD, at The Game Awards 2023, developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. Kojima shared, "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 on a "next-generation action espionage game" with PlayStation, announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This game represents a new original IP and marks a significant milestone in Kojima's career. 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 commence after the completion of DS2.

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. Keep up with the latest updates on the game by visiting our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article.