It was a weekend of reveals for Death Stranding fans at SXSW.
A number of significant key announcements on the game’s official sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, were dropped during a panel hosted by Hideo Kojia himself, and attended by Norman Reedus, Troy Baker, and musician Woodkid.
The panel offered behind-the-scenes insights, with Kojima discussing his creative process and the game’s evolution (reportedly influenced by his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic). Reedus and Baker shared anecdotes about their roles, while Woodkid hinted at his musical contributions.
Let’s dive into the key developments:
We now have an official release date – June 26, 2025 exclusive to Playstation 5.
Pre-orders open March 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. local time across various regions. 3 editions will be available:
Collector’s Edition
Priced at $229/€249 this edition includes a physical collector’s box containing:
- Full Game Digital Download
- 48-hour Early Access to the game
- 15” Magellan Man Statue
- 3” Dollman figurine
- Art cards
- Letter from Hideo Kojima
- In-game items:
- Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
- Battle Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Quokka Patch
- Chiral Feline Patch
- Why Me? Patch
Pre-orders of this edition also include:
- Quokka Hologram
- Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
Digital Deluxe Edition
Priced at $79.99/€89.99 this collection includes:
- Full Game Digital Download
- 48-hour Early Access to the game
- In-game items
- Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
- Battle Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Quokka Patch
- Chiral Feline Patch
- Why Me? Patch
Preorders of this edition also include:
- Quokka Hologram
- Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
Standard Edition
Priced at 69.99 USD/€79.99 this edition includes:
- Full Game Digital Download
If you pre-order the Standard Edition, you’ll also receive:
- Quokka Hologram
- Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
For fans eager to get a head start, pre-ordering either the Collector’s Edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition grants early access, allowing players to jump in two days earlier on June 24, 2025.
Pre-orders for the Collector’s Edition will be available in limited quantities exclusively through direct.playstation.com in select regions starting March 17.
The announcement of these editions came with a 10 minute, visually stunning, Kojima-directed pre-order trailer, offering fans a deeper look into the title’s gameplay, setting, and tone.
Key takeaways from the generous 10 minutes include the return of fan favorite characters, with Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), Fragile (Léa Seydoux), Higgs (Troy Baker), and even Hartman (Darren Jacobs) all making a return.
Additionally, a mysterious new character caught fans’ attention, with many noting a solid resemblance to a certain character from Kojima’s Metal Gear series, and fueling speculation about thematic or stylistic callbacks. The trailer didn’t name this figure, so your guess is as good as ours right now.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set some 11 months after the events of the original Death Stranding. The sequel follows Sam on a fresh mission in a world still ravaged by the Death Stranding phenomenon.
The delivery company Bridges has dissolved, replaced by a new organization called Drawbridge, hinting at shifting alliances and objectives, and a new world order. The trailer’s cryptic nature keeps the plot murky, true to Kojima’s style, but emphasizes themes of human connectivity in a fractured world.
Kojima says On the Beach is a hundred times better than its prequel. The trailer’s depiction of a vast open world with varied environments –sprawling deserts, eerie forests, and futuristic outposts to name a few — do much to cement that notion.
To boot, new mechanics like automated delivery operations, and portals connecting different continents were teased, suggesting a significant expansion of the traversal and exploration systems. Likewise, combat appears more flexible, with options for stealth or direct confrontation. Finally, the Social Strand system returns, allowing players to interact asynchronously by building structures or sharing paths.
Alongside the trailer, PlayStation released 14 new screenshots (See our gallery below), offering a closer look at the game’s visuals.
An unexpected bonus announcement featured the “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Strands of Harmony World Tour”, a series of concerts tied to the game’s soundtrack. The tour kicks off on November 8, 2025, in Sydney, Australia, and runs through March 26, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, with stops in the U.K., U.S., China, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan. While details on performers and music are scarce, this suggests a significant musical component to the game, possibly featuring artists like Woodkid (who appeared at the SXSW panel) or new collaborators. It’s a bold move to extend the Death Stranding experience beyond the screen, reinforcing its cultural footprint.
With the release date locked in and pre-orders looming, the weekend marked a turning point for Death Stranding 2. Fans can expect more details as March 17 approaches, likely including a breakdown of in-game bonuses and further gameplay snippets. The game’s promise of a reactive, interconnected world, paired with Kojima’s signature storytelling, positions it as one of 2025’s most anticipated titles
That’s the full scoop from the weekend!
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is shaping up to be a wild, ambitious ride, and June 26, can’t come soon enough.
