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

Hideo Kojima has a vision for Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to bring it to life. Dive into the details of how Death Stranding 2 could pave the way for numerous sequels and what lies ahead for Kojima's creative journey.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has already conceived an idea for what could be Death Stranding 3. In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima shared that a unique concept from DS2 has the potential to spawn multiple sequels. He introduced the "Plate Gates," a feature set to debut in DS2, which would enable the series to explore different countries and potentially lead to endless sequels. "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels," Kojima explained.

However, he was quick to clarify that he has no intention of personally developing Death Stranding 3. "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," he stated. This suggests that while fans might not see a Kojima-directed sequel in the immediate future, other developers could carry the torch with his blessing.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the thematic direction of DS2. Launched in November 2019, just before the world went into lockdown, the original Death Stranding focused on themes of connectivity and unity. Kojima reflected, "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 underscored the game's message about the importance of the Chiral Network, which Kojima likened to the Internet. "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online," he noted. Yet, he also pointed out the paradoxical nature of the Internet, which has become a source of division as people immerse themselves in virtual realities like the metaverse, reducing real-life human interactions.

Kojima shared his evolving perspective on connectivity, "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 introspection led him to reconsider DS2's narrative. "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 symbolize their themes, with the first game promoting "Let’s Connect," while the sequel warns, "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

While Kojima may not helm the next installment in the Death Stranding series, his creative output remains undeterred. In December 2023, he unveiled OD (formerly Overdose) at The Game Awards, a project developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios and acclaimed filmmaker Jordan Peele. "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 partnering with PlayStation for a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced at PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this title will be a new original IP. Kojima sees this as a milestone, 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." Development will commence once DS2 is completed.

Although these new projects are on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, set for June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. Keep up with the latest updates on the game by visiting our dedicated article on Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.