During a lively panel at SXSW 2025, Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Kojima Productions, excitedly revealed that “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” is set for a June 26 release on the PlayStation 5. To the delight of fans, this announcement was paired with a brand-new, extensive trailer.
The 10-minute glimpse into Death Stranding 2 introduces us to familiar characters and some intriguing new faces. Back in action are Norman Reedus as the ever-reliable Sam Bridges, Léa Seydoux as Fragile, and Troy Baker returning as Higgs. Joining them are fresh additions to the storyline: Elle Fanning takes on the role of Tomorrow, Shioli Kutsuna steps into the shoes of Rainy, and George Miller embodies Tarman. The cast further expands with Luca Marinelli portraying Neil, Debra Wilson as Doctor, and Alissa Jung as Lucy. Plus, there’s a special appearance by Korean action star Lee Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee.
The trailer is peppered with nods to Kojima’s beloved Metal Gear Solid series. During one scene, Marinelli’s Neil bears a striking resemblance to Solid Snake, and the fusion of a massive tar creature with the DHV Magellan forming the “Magellan Man” echoes the iconic Metal Gear Rex/Sahelanthropus. Fans will find plenty of action-packed scenes and mysterious story elements to keep them theorizing.
Set shortly after the establishment of the United Cities of America, Death Stranding 2 explores a new reality where automated deliveries threaten Sam’s line of work, as chiralium and emerging factions reshape the world. Despite these challenges, our protagonist remains undeterred in fulfilling his duties.
Kojima mentioned that the game’s narrative was significantly reshaped by his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This promises a nuanced continuation from the journey of the first game, which traversed a post-apocalyptic America teeming with ominous Beached Things.
When the second trailer dropped during a State of Play stream last year, fans saw the disbanding of the Bridges delivery company, replaced by the mysterious Drawbridge organization. As always, Kojima keeps the details intriguingly ambiguous, leaving plenty more to unravel as the game approaches its release.
