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

Hideo Kojima has conceptualized a potential Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to bring it to life. Dive into the details about how Death Stranding 2 could lead to multiple sequels and what's on the horizon for Kojima's creative journey.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Hideo Kojima, the visionary director behind Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed an intriguing concept for a potential Death Stranding 3. During an insightful interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima disclosed that while he has an idea in mind, he won't be the one to execute it. He highlighted the "Plate Gates" introduced in DS2, a feature that could enable the series to explore different countries and spawn numerous sequels. "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels," Kojima explained. However, he made it clear that he has no plans to work on Death Stranding 3 himself. "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," he added, suggesting that other developers might carry the torch forward with his blessing.

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. Released just months before the world went into lockdown in November 2019, the original Death Stranding emphasized connectivity amidst a backdrop of isolation and division. "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," Kojima stated.

The pandemic, with its reliance on the internet for connection, mirrored the game's core message. Kojima noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also observed a darker side, with the internet causing further division and a shift towards the metaverse, diminishing real-life human interactions. "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," he reflected.

The lockdown experience led Kojima to reconsider the value of connectivity, prompting a thematic shift in DS2. "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," he pondered, a sentiment reflected through one of the game's characters. The strands in the game's logos hint at these themes, with the first game advocating "Let’s Connect," while the sequel suggests "We should not have connected." Kojima teased, "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

Even though Kojima won't lead the next installment in the Death Stranding series, his creative endeavors extend beyond this universe. In December 2023, alongside Jordan Peele, he unveiled OD (formerly Overdose) at The Game Awards 2023, a project developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. "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," Kojima shared.

Additionally, Kojima is set to collaborate with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game," announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024. This new IP marks a significant milestone for Kojima, as he aims to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his game production career. "I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work," he stated, with development set to begin once DS2 is completed.

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. Stay updated with the latest on the game by checking out our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article.