Death Stranding 3 Confirmed Without Kojima

Hideo Kojima already has a concept for Death Stranding 3, but he won't be the one to develop it. Discover how Death Stranding 2 could spawn numerous sequels and what lies ahead for Kojima's career.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Led By Kojima

Death Stranding 2 Paves the Way for "Endless Sequels"

Hideo Kojima, director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed he already envisions what Death Stranding 3 could be—though he won't be the one to create it. In a May 8 interview with VGC, Kojima shared that a specific element from DS2 could lead to multiple follow-up games.

He referred to the "Plate Gates," a feature introduced in DS2 that enables the series to explore different countries and potentially generate an endless stream of sequels. Kojima remarked, "Using this Plate Gate concept, I could create sequels indefinitely."

Despite this, he immediately dismissed the possibility of personally directing a hypothetical Death Stranding 3. He continued, "Of course, I don't plan to do that myself, but I already have a concept for another sequel. If I handed it off to another developer, they could likely bring it to life." Although fans shouldn't expect a Kojima-led sequel anytime soon, other creators might receive his approval to continue the series.

The Pandemic Altered Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also explained how DS2 evolved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The original game launched in November 2019, just months before global lockdowns began.

He explained, "The world was moving toward isolation and division—like the UK leaving the EU. So my message was, ‘Let’s connect. We’re headed for disaster if we don’t.’ That became the core theme, narrative, and gameplay of Death Stranding."

When the pandemic struck, Kojima observed how it reflected Death Stranding’s themes, particularly the importance of the Chiral Network, which he likened to the real-life internet. "We survived the pandemic because of the internet and online connections," he said.

However, he noted that the same internet now fuels division among people. He highlighted how society is shifting toward the metaverse, with individuals staring at screens and reducing genuine human interaction.

Kojima emphasized, "Human communication isn't meant to work this way. True connections happen through chance encounters and unexpected discoveries. With our current trajectory, we risk losing all of that."

His initial vision for DS2 was already in progress, but after experiencing the pandemic, he decided to revise the game. Kojima began to question whether excessive connection was truly beneficial, and these reflections are embodied in one of the game’s characters.

He pointed out that the strands in the game’s logos symbolize their respective themes—the first game promoted "Let’s Connect," while the sequel suggests "We Should Not Have Connected." Kojima stated, "When you deeply consider what connection truly means, you start to have doubts… That's all I can share for now."

More Projects on the Horizon

Even if he doesn’t helm the next installment, Kojima will continue creating beyond the Death Stranding universe. In December 2023, alongside comedian and filmmaker Jordan Peele, he unveiled OD (previously known as Overdose) at The Game Awards 2023.

This project is being developed in partnership with Microsoft Game Studios. "The project we're working on with Microsoft is something I’ve been contemplating for five or six years. It required infrastructure that never existed before, so I pitched it to various major companies—many thought I was insane," he recalled.

Additionally, Kojima is collaborating with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game." He announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024 that this will be an entirely new intellectual property.

The creator of the Metal Gear series sees this project as a full-circle moment, saying, "I’ll celebrate my 40th year in game development. I believe this title will represent the peak of my career." Development will begin once DS2 is finished.

While these upcoming projects are still distant, fans can look forward to DS2’s release in the near future. Kojima recently addressed the game’s launch timeline in light of GTA 6’s delay and its impact on other studios.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is scheduled to launch on June 26, 2025, for PlayStation 5. For the latest updates, check out our detailed Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!