There’s something comforting in not only Death Stranding getting a sequel, but its trailers not getting any less strange. In fact, today’s State of Play trailer was maybe the most bizarre look yet, spotlighting an entire new region for Sam to connect, and a release window of 2025.
Now apparently dubbed Death Stranding 2 On The Beach, I’m not sure where to start with all this. Sam “Porter” Bridges, portrayed again by Norman Reedus, is back in the lead. Fragile is back too, with a hand-based neck apparatus that can act as both a mask and as just, uh, hands.
Sam and pals are back on a new journey to save humanity from extinction amidst the Death Stranding, where enemies are still around every corner. We see packages being delivered, people floating in the air, and plenty of familiar iconography. But there are plenty of twists and turns.
Higgs looks to be back, as a Joker-fied version of himself, shredding a guitar while fighting a robot samurai with a baby voice. Still processing that one. There’s also a puppet companion, almost like a Jiminy Cricket-style character? Who can do vampire eyes? It’s wild.
Honestly, bring it on. I’d always rather have something weird and outside my expectations run headfirst into walls than something that feels too safe. And while Death Stranding 2 certainly seems like it’s iterating on the original, there’s plenty of new and weird here to keep me interested.
Death Stranding 2 is planned for 2025.