Death stranding 2 received a new, nearly ten-minute trailer during Sony’s State of Play event in January 2024. The trailer gave us a look at the storyline, new footage, and a 2025 release window. We also finally got confirmation on the full title of the game: Death Stranding 2: On the beach.
The trailer opens with some mysterious figures in military fatigues removing a body from a strange doll. Fans of the original Death stranding will recognize one of them as Fragile (Léa Seydoux) – a key player in the events of the first game, who aids protagonist Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) in his quest to reunite the remains of the United States.
The trailer then gives us a look at a ship that appears to belong to ‘Drawbridge’, a non-military organization created to repair the fragmented world of Death stranding.
We are then treated to some beautiful photos of Death stranding 2‘s locations before seeing a preview of a confrontation between Sam and Higgs – one of the antagonists from the first game. Finally, we return to the ship before the preview reaches its climax with an ominous message: “Should we have reconnected?”
You can watch the trailer for yourself below.
There’s a huge amount to unpack here. From Higgs’ new Emo aesthetic to the mysterious doll that now accompanies Sam on his journey, the trailer raises as many questions as it answers. However, when it comes to games from Kojima Productions, speculation and fan theories are all part of the appeal.
I was most intrigued by the logo of the organization ‘Drawbridge’. Not only does it have a hip art deco style that goes against much of what we’ve seen in the Death stranding universe, but the motto of the organization is also fascinating: “Both stick and rope. To protect and connect. Together. For tomorrow.”
This is another reference to a short story by The short story of Kobo Abe Nawa (“The rope” in English). The first thing you see when you start a new game Standing dead is a quote from this story. The story deals with themes of connection and isolation, and it’s clear that Kojima Productions wants to keep these themes front and center. Death stranding 2‘s story too.
Curious about Death Stranding 2? Check out our lists of the best single player games And best PS5 games for more iconic experiences.