Death Stranding 2 Wows Summer Game Fest with Dazzling Gameplay and Surprise Cameos
A Show-Stopping Return to the Beach With Death Stranding 2: On the Beach only weeks from release, Hideo Kojima rolled into Los Angeles’ historic Orpheum Theater for Summer Game Fest and treated...
A Show-Stopping Return to the Beach
With Death Stranding 2: On the Beach only weeks from release, Hideo Kojima rolled into Los Angeles’ historic Orpheum Theater for Summer Game Fest and treated fans to the most in-depth look at the sequel yet.
Kojima’s All-Star Line-Up
Flanked by host Geoff Keighley and his long-time translator, Kojima brought out key collaborators:
- Troy Baker – returning fan-favorite performer
- Shioli Kutsuna – the mysterious Rainy
- Woodkid – composer behind the game’s dynamic score
- A video greeting from Elle Fanning, who embodies the enigmatic Tomorrow
The crowd erupted when Norman Reedus’ Sam Porter Bridges appeared on-screen—and the surprises kept coming.
Fresh Footage: Songs, Sand, and Showdowns
Kojima unveiled a trio of near-final sequences:
- Heartfelt Lullaby – Sam and Tomorrow serenade Rainy and her unborn child.
- Tomorrow Unleashed – a high-energy montage of Tomorrow’s agile, foot-focused combat.
- Opening Moments – players traverse a rocky desert on the Mexico-UCA border while the tutorial quietly teaches new mechanics.
Every frame looked photo-real, but the standout was the dynamic soundtrack: the music morphs in real time, gently guiding explorers or ratcheting up when gunfire erupts.
Meet Neil: a Snake-Like Rival
A fireworks-lit firefight introduced Neil (Luca Marinelli), who coordinates flanking maneuvers and signals allies just like enemies in the original game. Before bullets fly, he ties on a bandana reminiscent of Solid Snake, drawing loud cheers. Kojima later confirmed that Neil’s narrative weight will echo Mads Mikkelsen’s iconic role from the first title. Lucy (Alisa Jung), glimpsed in an earlier trailer, shares a story thread intertwined with Neil’s motives.
How the Sequel Builds on the Original
On the Beach blends the trademark hiking simulation, Yoji Shinkawa’s striking character designs, and Kojima’s surreal sci-fi storytelling about reconnecting a fractured world where life and death overlap.
Trailer Recap: Lou’s Journey Continues
- First trailer – Fragile nurses Lou (the BB rescued in part one). Attackers storm their bunker; Lou dies and re-emerges as a BT.
- Second trailer – Lou, now a spectral BB, joins Sam on a fresh mission long after Bridges disbanded and the chiral network went online.
Release Plans
Launch date: June 26, 2025
Platform: PlayStation 5 first, with PC and Xbox Series X versions expected later—mirroring the original’s rollout.
Excitement is sky-high, and if this showcase is any indication, Death Stranding 2 is poised to strand players on Kojima’s haunting beaches all over again.
