Warning: This article contains small spoilers for Death Stranding 2The legendary video game director Hideo Kojima has confirmed he has an idea for a third entry in theDeath Strandingfranchise. The news comes as Kojima Productions is gearing up to release its second-ever game,Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Following on from the original 2019 hit,Death Stranding 2is due to be released on June 24. There are still a lot of questions surrounding the plot of Kojima’s next action-adventure game, but it will be set 11 months after the events ofDeath Stranding. Players will once again take the role of Sam Bridges, who has set up life in Mexico with his bridge-baby, Lou. With just over a month until the game is released, Kojima has been talking about the future of theDeath Strandingseries beyondDeath Stranding 2.
Even though the second installment isn’t on the shelves,Kojima has big ideas for theDeath Strandingfranchise. In a recent Q&A, the legendary director spoke about the direction of a possibleDeath Stranding 3. Kojima stated that the new Plate Gate mechanic inDeath Stranding 2could be a key feature for opening up the franchise for sequels. The Plate Gates will be used inDeath Stranding 2to link up North America to Australia, enabling fast travel between continents. Speaking toVGC, it seems Kojima has been inspired by the possibilities of this new mechanic, saying, “If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels!”
Kojima Comments on the Possibility of Death Stranding 3
The news of a thirdDeath Strandinggame could excite gamers, but Kojima is quick to temper expectations. The director confirms that while he does have a concept forDeath Stranding 3, he has no plans to put this into action. If a threequel were to happen, Kojima has stated he would not return to direct the game. Instead, he would look to pass the series to another team to develop. Presumably, this is due to the game developer’s current slate of projects. FollowingDeath Stranding 2,Kojima Productions will be focusing onOD,a mysterious game co-written with horror director Jordan Peele. The game was announced in 2023, but aside from a few concept images, very little is known.
It remains to be seen what will happen to theDeath Strandingfranchise after the release ofDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachin June. It looks as if Kojima will be moving on from the series regardless. After the mysteriousOD,Kojima will look to return to his tactical espionage roots withPhysint. This is a joint venture with PlayStation Studios and is set to release as both a video game and a feature film.
