Kojima Confirms Death Stranding 3 Exists, But Won't Develop It

Hideo Kojima already has an idea for Death Stranding 3, but he will not work on it. Read on to learn more about how Death Stranding 2 could produce multiple sequels and what’s in store for Kojima’s future.

Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"

In a revealing interview with VGC on May 8, Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Death Stranding 2 (DS2), disclosed that he has conceptualized a potential Death Stranding 3, but he won't be at the helm of its development. Kojima hinted at the "Plate Gates" feature, which will debut in DS2, enabling the series to explore different countries and potentially spawn an endless array of sequels. He stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels."

Despite this exciting potential, Kojima firmly stated he has no intention of personally developing Death Stranding 3. He remarked, "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 suggests that while fans might not see a Kojima-directed sequel, the series could continue with his blessing under new leadership.

The Pandemic Changed Death Stranding 2’s Theme

Kojima also shared how the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the themes of DS2. Released just before the world went into lockdown in November 2019, the first game's message of connectivity seemed eerily prescient. Kojima explained, "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."

The pandemic underscored the importance of connectivity, with Kojima drawing parallels between the game's Chiral Network and the real-world Internet. He noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." Yet, he also acknowledged the Internet's role in fostering division, especially with the rise of the metaverse, which he believes diminishes genuine human interaction.

Kojima's reflections led him to reconsider the theme of connectivity for DS2. He mused, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," and this introspection is reflected in the game's narrative and characters. The strands in the logos of both games are symbolic; the first game's message was "Let’s Connect," while the sequel's is "We should not have connected." Kojima teased, "When you really start thinking about what it means to connect, you start to wonder… That’s all I’ll say for now."

More Projects To Come

Even though Kojima won't lead the next installment in the Death Stranding series, he's far from done creating. In December 2023, he unveiled OD (formerly Overdose) with Jordan Peele at The Game Awards 2023, a project developed in collaboration with Microsoft Game Studios. Kojima shared, "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."

Additionally, Kojima is teaming up with PlayStation for a new "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this game will be an entirely new IP. Kojima aims to celebrate his 40th anniversary in game development with this project, 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 once DS2 is finished.

While these exciting projects are still on the horizon, fans can look forward to the imminent release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, set to launch on June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. For the latest updates on the game, be sure to check out our comprehensive Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article.