Leave it to Hideo Kojima to drop a 10-minute trailer that makes absolutely zero sense but somehow has me completely hooked anyway. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach just got its official release date, June 26, 2025 – and after watching that extended SXSW footage, I’m genuinely not sure what I just witnessed, but I know I need to experience it myself.
The new trailer showcased Sam traversing genuinely breathtaking environments with his companions, and honestly, the visual upgrade from the first game is stunning. What really caught my attention, though, was how much more action-packed everything looks. The combat has been completely revamped with creative new weapons, and there’s a freeform approach to encounters that feels reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid V’s best moments.
But let’s be real, this is still peak Kojima weirdness, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The dialogue makes zero sense without context, the philosophical questions about human connection are as heavy as ever, and Sam’s still delivering packages while pondering existential dread. It’s exactly what Death Stranding fans want: more of that beautiful, bizarre experience that only Kojima can deliver.
Pre-orders started March 17th, and honestly, after that trailer, resistance is futile. June can’t come soon enough.
