Hideo Kojima has expressed his satisfaction with the critical reception of Death Stranding 2, while also using the spotlight to urge players to “fight and battle” against war and climate change. The acclaimed game director confirmed these themes sit at the core of his latest PlayStation 5 exclusive, which has been gaining widespread praise since its release.
“I’m happy with how Death Stranding 2 has been received,” Kojima stated in recent interviews coinciding with the game’s launch. His latest creation continues the post-apocalyptic journey of Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, in a world devastated by environmental collapse and fragmented human connections.
The sequel features a touching tribute to Ryan Karazija, the frontman of Low Roar whose music became synonymous with the first Death Stranding. Kojima revealed that he had planned to collaborate directly with Karazija for the sequel, but COVID-19 restrictions prevented this meeting. Following Karazija’s unexpected passing, Kojima worked with the musician’s family to include previously unreleased Low Roar tracks in the game.
“When I was creating Death Stranding 2, I wanted to contact Ryan, but because of Covid he couldn’t come to Japan to perform,” Kojima explained. “Then I got this sad message that Ryan passed away and that was so tragic… I decided to put in his new songs in Death Stranding 2.”
Players have responded emotionally to hearing the new Low Roar music. “That first Low Roar track I heard in DS2 hit like a freight train,” shared one fan. The soundtrack also features contributions from other artists including Woodkid, Caroline Polachek, and Magnolian, creating a rich audio landscape that complements the game’s themes.
Death Stranding 2 builds upon its predecessor’s foundation while introducing substantial improvements. The game offers enhanced traversal options, deeper world events tied to environmental disasters, and numerous quality-of-life upgrades that have been well-received by the community.
Digital masterpiece
Death Stranding 2 shows off the impressive capabilities of Guerrilla Games’ Decima engine. Players have been stunned by the visual fidelity, with many noting the game keeps running at 60 frames per second even in its vast open world. “The Decima Engine might be the best engine in gaming. This level of 60 fps fidelity in an open world game is insane,” remarked one impressed player.
The game’s distinctive approach to storytelling continues Kojima’s auteur tradition, blending unusual narrative elements with powerful underlying messages about human connection, environmental stewardship, and peace. Death Stranding 2 is already being talked about as a strong Game of the Year contender for 2024, standing out in a competitive release schedule.
