Hideo Kojima Teases Death Stranding 2 & Metal Gear Solid Successor

During Sony's State Of Play event, numerous new games were showcased for the PlayStation 5 console, but the spotlight once again fell on the games crafted by renowned video game designer Hideo Kojima. Following the recent release of Kojima's Death Stranding game on Apple's platforms, namely the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, he wasted no time in unveiling the trailer for its sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, just a day after launching the Director's Cut of his first game outside of Konami. Alongside the captivating and cinematic trailer for the game, scheduled for release in 2025, Kojima also disclosed his plans to make a comeback to the action espionage genre with a new game that will serve as the culmination of his extensive 30-plus years of experience. This upcoming game, which is currently untitled, is set to be launched in 2027, coinciding with Kojima's 40th anniversary in the gaming industry.

Kojima is globally recognised for his groundbreaking Metal Gear Solid franchise, which he developed while employed at Konami. Following a contentious separation from the company, he established his own studio, Kojima Productions, and this new game is expected to be his reimagining of the achievements he attained with the Metal Gear Solid franchise, which revolutionised the action espionage genre.

Speaking about his latest project, Kojima emphasised that it will not only be an interactive game but also a cinematic experience. He expressed confidence that this new game will be a culmination of his body of work, aiming to transcend the boundaries between film and video games.

During the event, Kojima shared the stage with Herman Hurst, the head of PlayStation Studios. They concealed the camera momentarily, only to unveil a Columbia Pictures sign featuring the working title of the game, "Physint."

Kojima revealed that the game will be developed using cutting-edge technology and will harness the talents of industry professionals from both the film and video game domains. While it will undoubtedly be an interactive "game," its visual aesthetics, narrative, themes, cast, performances, fashion, sound, and more will be elevated to the next level of "Digital Entertainment," akin to a "movie."

Death Stranding also draws inspiration from Kojima's previous work in the Metal Gear franchise. The new Death Stranding trailer showcases fresh locations beyond the United States and reintroduces a redesigned villain inspired by Batman's Joker from the first game.

The official premise of the game states, "Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam, accompanied by his comrades, embarks on a new quest to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they navigate a world plagued by otherworldly adversaries, obstacles, and a haunting question: should we have forged these connections?"

Although Death Stranding 2 was initially announced at the Game Awards in 2022, it now has a complete title and an accompanying trailer. The game features notable veterans of the gaming industry, including Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, Elle Fanning, Shioli Kutsuna, and Troy Baker. Additionally, Kojima Productions has partnered with A24 for a live-action film adaptation of Death Stranding, while an Xbox horror game titled OD is also currently in development.