Kojima Announces DS3 Exists, No Plans to Direct

While Hideo Kojima already has a concept for Death Stranding 3, he has confirmed he won't be the one to develop it. Learn more about how Death Stranding 2 lays the groundwork for potential future sequels and what Kojima has planned next.

Kojima Won't Direct Death Stranding 3

Death Stranding 2 Paves the Way for "Endless Sequels"

Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed he already has an idea for a third game but will not be the one to bring it to life. In a May 8th interview with VGC, Kojima explained that a specific concept introduced in DS2 could potentially generate multiple sequels.

He referred to the "Plate Gates," a new feature in DS2 that allows the series to expand into different countries, effectively enabling endless sequels. Kojima elaborated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

However, he was quick to dismiss any notion of personally leading the development of Death Stranding 3. He added, "I, of course, don’t have any plans to do that, but I already have a concept for another sequel. I am not going to make it myself, but if I passed it on to someone else, they could probably make it." This means that while a Kojima-directed sequel isn't imminent, another developer could continue the series with his original concept.

The Pandemic Altered Death Stranding 2's Core Theme

Kojima also discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the themes of DS2. The first game launched in November 2019, just before global lockdowns began.

He stated, "The world was heading towards isolation and division, such as the UK leaving the EU. So I was saying, ‘Let’s connect. We’re headed for disaster if we don’t connect.’ That was the theme, story, and gameplay for Death Stranding."

When the pandemic hit, Kojima noted that it mirrored the game's narrative, particularly the importance of the Chiral Network, which he compared to the real-life internet. "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online," he explained.

However, Kojima observed that the same internet is now a source of division. He mentioned the trend toward the metaverse, where people focus on screens at the expense of genuine human interaction.

Kojima emphasized, "Communication between human beings is not meant to be this way. You meet people by chance or see sights you didn’t expect to see. With the way we were headed, you would lose all of that."

Although his initial idea for DS2 was already in place, experiencing the pandemic led him to rewrite the game. Kojima began to question whether excessive connectivity was entirely positive, sentiments reflected through one of the game's characters.

He indicated that the strands in the game's logos hint at their respective themes. The first game championed "Let's Connect," while the sequel explores "We should not have connected." Kojima stated, "When you really start thinking about what it means to connect, you start to wonder… That’s all I’ll say for now."

Multiple New Projects on the Horizon

Even if he isn't leading the next Death Stranding, Kojima remains highly active with other ventures. In December 2023, alongside comedian and filmmaker Jordan Peele, he unveiled his upcoming game, OD (formerly Overdose), during The Game Awards.

This project is being developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. "The project we’re working on with Microsoft is one I have been thinking about for five or six years already. The project required infrastructure that was never needed before, so I discussed it with lots of different big companies and gave presentations, but they really seemed to think that I was mad," he said.

Additionally, Kojima is partnering with PlayStation on a "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this will be a brand-new original IP.

The creator of the Metal Gear series sees this project as a full-circle moment, stating, "I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work." Development will commence after DS2 is finished.

While these new projects are still some time away, fans can look forward to Death Stranding 2 in the near future. Kojima recently commented on the game's release schedule in light of other studios adjusting their plans due to GTA 6's delay.

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