During a star-studded panel at Tokyo Game Show 2024, Hideo Kojima and most of the game’s voice cast offered fans a glimpse into Death Stranding 2, the sequel to Kojima Productions’ unique postal-apocalyptic adventure. While the presentation was packed with new information and footage, one crucial detail remained amiss: the game’s release date.
According to the video game auteur, he already has a specific release date in mind, but he’s keeping it close to the vest for now.
“We haven’t said the release date today, but the release date has been decided and I’m currently working in preparation for that,” Kojima explained. He assured fans the game is still on track for a 2025 release, with an official date announcement planned for sometime next year.
Why this secrecy? Kojima cited “unforeseen circumstances” preventing him from sharing the date at this time. While he didn’t elaborate on these circumstances, there’s only one reason that could make someone like Kojima hesitate: Grand Theft Auto 6.
The original Death Stranding, released in 2019, was a polarizing title that challenged players’ expectations of what a video game could be. Set in a post-apocalyptic and fictional version of America ravaged by supernatural events, players took on the role of Sam Porter Bridges, a courier tasked with reconnecting isolated communities. The game’s unique blend of delivery mechanics, social connection systems, and surreal storytelling garnered both praise and criticism, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
It came with little expectations except maybe among Metal Gear fans who hoped it was another Moby Dick situation. However, it’s an entirely different situation for the sequel. Instead, it comes with more hype than ever with fans looking forward to a bigger, better-looking follow-up to the now-beloved “walking simulator”, especially with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater also coming out next year. Thus, the pressure is on for Death Stranding 2 to outshine one of Kojima’s best games AND sell well immediately at launch, given the heightened costs of video game development in recent years.
Sony and Kojima Productions likely want the game to sell to as many people as possible at launch, which can only happen if it isn’t released close to GTA 6—or any other Take-Two game, for that matter. At the same time, Sony doesn’t want Death Stranding 2 cannibalising sales towards another PlayStation Studios title, namely, Ghost of Yotei.
To maximize sales and generate maximum profit, Sony and Kojima Productions will have to be very strategic with the release of Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei.
It’s worth noting that Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2 don’t have release dates at the moment, further supporting this theory.
As of the moment, Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have yet to confirm when GTA 6 is coming out outside of reaffirming its Fall 2025 release window. Until then, Kojima Productions, and pretty much the rest of the video game industry, will lie in wait, trying to avoid falling victim to the sequel to the video game industry’s second-best-selling video game ever.
Ironically, Kojima is no stranger to these types of situations, but it’s his games that others usually try to avoid. Back in 2015, Avalanche Studios’ Mad Max ran into Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, posting low sales despite being a perfectly good game, which may have resulted in the cancelation of a potential sequel.
Aside from Death Stranding 2, Kojima Productions and Sony are working together on Physint, the spiritual successor to Metal Gear that may be one of the earliest confirmed excluives for the PlayStation 6.
