Summary
Given how weird the first game was and how little information has been revealed about the sequel so far,Death Stranding 2: On the Beachis one of the most mysterious games of 2025. Despite the lengthy trailers thatHideo Kojimahas treated fans to, what has been revealed has largely resulted in more questions than answers, adding fuel to the fire ofDeath Stranding 2’s biggest theories by giving fans more to speculate on. While there are plenty of mysteries yet to be solved in the game, however, the Red Samurai character who initially appeared inDeath Stranding 2’s State of Play announcement trailer is one of its most profound.
The Red Samurai first appeared inDeath Stranding 2’s State of Play announcement trailer, where it battles Higgs for unknown reasons after a brief but tense exchange between Higgs and Sam. During the battle, the Red Samurai can be frequently heard making baby noises similar to those that Lou made in the firstDeath Stranding. Needless to say, it sparked a lot of discussion among fans, and now that discussion has been reignited after Kojima made a recent post on X featuring the Red Samurai.
Kojima Just Poured Fuel on the Red Samurai Fire
Kojima’s Latest Tease Revives One of Death Stranding 2’s Biggest Unanswered Questions
As ifDeath Stranding 2’s Red Samurai wasn’t already mysterious enough, Hideo Kojima recently had to go and make the cryptic nature of the character all the more enticing. In a recent post on X, Kojima seemed to tease the Red Samurai’s importance toDeath Stranding 2’s story, making it appear as though the character plays an even more pivotal role than some fans might have initially expected. The post itself didn’t reveal anything outright, of course, as Kojima is known for giving fans just enough information to drive them crazy. Nevertheless, it was enough to revive one ofDeath Stranding 2’s biggest unanswered questions.
In the game’s promotional materials, the Red Samurai is depicted as a towering, armored humanoid with a distinctive red mask.
The post in question featured a picture of the Red Samurai, along with theDeath Stranding 2logo and the words “Red Samurai” with three question marks beneath them. It could be that Kojima is simply playing on the heated conversation surrounding the true identity of the Red Samurai, but it’s more likely that the Red Samurai really is someone important and Kojima simply wants to get fans talking about it again. It is fairly safe to assume that the reveal of the Red Samurai’s true nature andidentity inDeath Stranding 2will be a major plot thread, though Kojima has likely prepared something here that no one would expect.
The Red Samurai Could Be Lou
For now, it’s only possible to speculate on whom the Red Samurai could be. One of the more justifiable theories is that the Red Samurai is, in fact, Lou, and this is based on more than the character’s voice alone. In the firstDeath Stranding, Higgs fires his gun at Sam, after which Lou takes control of Sam’s Odradek to shield him from the bullets. In theState of Play announcement trailer forDeath Stranding 2, the Red Samurai rises to Sam’s aid against Higgs, suggesting that it could be Lou — especially with the accompanying baby sounds.
It is fairly safe to assume that the reveal of the Red Samurai’s true nature and identity inDeath Stranding 2will be a major plot thread, though Kojima has likely prepared something here that no one would expect.
According to the same trailer, it’s implied that Higgs actually killed Lou when Sam accuses him of doing so, and Sam also finds Lou’s pod emitting signs associated with BTs, indicating her death. As such, it could be that Lou’s Ka (spirit) has manifested as the Red Samurai to protect Sam. This is by far the most compelling theory, and it would align with Kojima’s recent post seeming to elevate the importance of the Red Samurai toDeath Stranding 2’s story. That being said, Kojima has been known to throw fans for a loop, so this could simply be one of those times.
