Hideo Kojima, the legendary game director and the mastermind behind Kojima Productions, made an exciting announcement on Sunday at the SXSW 2025 panel. Mark your calendars because “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” is heading to PlayStation 5 on June 26. Alongside this announcement, Kojima treated fans to an extensive new trailer that dives deep into the game’s world.
The latest trailer offers a fresh ten-minute glimpse into the much-anticipated sequel, reintroducing us to familiar faces while showcasing some new ones. Norman Reedus reprises his role as Sam Bridges, the stoic hero known for his package-carrying escapades. Fans will also be delighted to see Léa Seydoux return as Fragile and Troy Baker as the enigmatic Higgs. Joining this talented lineup are new characters portrayed by Elle Fanning as Tomorrow, Shioli Kutsuna as Rainy, and George Miller as Tarman. Plus, the cast expands with Luca Marinelli playing Neil, Debra Wilson as Doctor, and Alissa Jung as Lucy. And there’s even a special appearance by Korean action star Lee Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee.
Eagle-eyed fans will notice subtle nods to Kojima’s iconic Metal Gear Solid series within the trailer. At one point, Marinelli’s character, Neil, resembles Solid Snake eerily. Meanwhile, a colossal tar creature merging with DHV Magellan and becoming what Kojima calls “the Magellan Man” certainly evokes memories of Metal Gear Rex and Sahelanthropus. The trailer is packed with plenty of action and storyline teases, offering plenty for Death Stranding enthusiasts to dissect.
The narrative of “Death Stranding 2” picks up 11 months after the creation of the United Cities of America. The game world has evolved; beaches are lined with servers and deliveries have become automated, seemingly pushing porters like Sam into obsolescence. Chiralium continues to wreak havoc on the environment—and even the cats!—while a new faction stretches its influence across the land. Yet, it appears nothing will deter Sam from his mission.
Reflecting on the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Kojima shared during The Game Awards in 2022 how the experience inspired him to rewrite the script, looking at the storyline through a new lens. The sequel will continue the tale of navigating a post-apocalyptic America plagued with inky black creatures known as Beached Things.
A previous trailer unleashed during a State of Play stream revealed that the delivery service Bridges, which Sam once worked for, is no more. In its place, a new entity called Drawbridge has emerged, but true to Kojima’s signature style, the details remain deliciously cryptic.
