Summary
Death Stranding 2: On the Beachhasn’t even been released yet, but the possibility of the series ending after the sequel has already become more likely, due to some recent comments made by Hideo Kojima. During aninterview with VGC, Kojima indicated that, while he does have a concept in mind forDeath Stranding 3, he doesn’t intend to direct it. If that’s the case, it could be thatDeath Stranding 2is going to be the last entry in the series. At the very least, it means that Kojima can end it the way that he wants, and then leave its future in the hands of those he passes the torch to.
While this might be disappointing news for fans looking forward toDeath Stranding 2who would love to see the series continue after the second entry is released, there may be a bit of a silver lining to it. Based on Kojima’s history with theMetal Gear Solidseries — namely, the fifth installment — his plan forDeath Stranding’s initial legacy to end with him could be a blessing in disguise. In fact, from a certain perspective, it might even be what’s best forDeath Strandingin the long run.
Why Death Stranding 2 Potentially Ending the Series Might Be Kojima’s Greatest Gift
Creative Control Guarantees Closure This Time
IfDeath Strandinghas proven anything, it’s just how much creative liberty Hideo Kojima has over his projects now that he has his own studio, Kojima Productions. Before leaving Konami, Kojima’s signature bizarre ideas were kept in a cage that he didn’t own the key to, but that has largely changed with him now at the helm of Kojima Productions. In this position, he can essentially do whatever he wants, and while that might sound like an unstable road to travel on,Death Stranding’s critical success, despite a wide range of responses, has something to say about that.
Based on Kojima’s history with theMetal Gear Solidseries — namely, the fifth installment — his plan forDeath Stranding’s initial legacy to end with him could be a blessing in disguise.
Now, withDeath Stranding 2, Kojima maintains that creative freedom, and that much is made clear by its apparent weirdness, which is arguably on a different level than even its predecessor. However, what this level of creative control also means is that he can endDeath Stranding’s story the way that he wants to — a luxury he didn’t always have access to when working under Konami. Regardless of whether his successors choose to continueDeath Stranding’s story or bury it in the ground,Death Stranding 2’s concluding moments are more than likely going to tie up the story in such a way that the series wouldn’t need a third game.
DS2 Being the End Could Be a Redemption Arc After Metal Gear Solid 5
This would be a kind of redemption arc for Kojima’s legacy afterMetal Gear Solid 5, which was released in 2015 under Konami. The development ofMetal Gear Solid 5was marred bytensions between Kojima and Konami, leading to the game’s release without what was apparently the conclusion Kojima had intended for it. Most notably, a significant portion of content, including the “Kingdom of the Flies” chapter, was cut, resulting in a narrative that many fans and critics thought felt incomplete and fragmented.
To this day, fans continue to hope for a Kojima cut ofMetal Gear Solid 5, that his original vision for the game might be fully realized.
There have been no definitive remarks made thatDeath Stranding 2will be the last game in the series, only that Hideo is currently planning to tie a Kojima-colored bow on it in an effort to guard his personal vision for the franchise. More than likely, this does meanDeath Stranding 2’s storywill be conclusive for the series, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that fans should write off its future.
