Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind the Death Stranding series, has revealed that he already has an idea for Death Stranding 3, but he will not be the one to bring it to life. This announcement sheds light on the expansive potential of Death Stranding 2 and what fans can expect from Kojima's future endeavors.

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), disclosed that he has conceptualized a potential Death Stranding 3. However, he has no intention of directing it himself. He mentioned a concept from DS2 known as "Plate Gates," which would allow the series to explore different countries and potentially lead to numerous sequels. Kojima stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels." While he has a clear vision for another sequel, he firmly stated, "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 Death Stranding 3, the possibility exists for other developers to carry the torch with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also shared how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the thematic direction of DS2. The original Death Stranding game, released in November 2019, focused on themes of connection amidst a world heading towards isolation, exemplified by events like Brexit. 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 onset of the pandemic in early 2020 reinforced the game's message, with the Chiral Network serving as a metaphor for the Internet's role in keeping people connected during lockdown. Kojima noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also highlighted the paradox that the same Internet, which once united people, now contributes to division and a shift towards the metaverse, reducing real-life human interactions. 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 pandemic led Kojima to reconsider the theme of DS2, prompting him to think, "‘Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much." This introspection is reflected in the game's narrative, with the strands in the logos symbolizing the themes: the first game's "Let’s Connect" and the sequel's "We should not have connected." Kojima hinted at deeper reflections on connectivity, saying, "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 directing a potential Death Stranding 3, Kojima is not slowing down. In December 2023, he announced a new project, OD (formerly known as Overdose), in collaboration with comedian and filmmaker Jordan Peele and 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 teaming up with PlayStation for a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This will be a brand-new original IP, and Kojima expressed his excitement, stating, "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 won't have to wait long for new content from Kojima. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025, for the PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into this highly anticipated sequel by checking out our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article.