Summary
Over five years since the first game,Death Stranding 2: On the Beachis finally almost here, primed and ready to expand on the story, world, and unorthodox gameplay mechanics introduced by its predecessor. Despite being more of a cult hit initially, over time,Death Strandinghas garnered a considerable following, which is great news for Hideo Kojima’s fairly new studio, Kojima Productions. Now,Death Stranding 2is prepared to carry that success even further with improvements to gameplay that should, in theory, open the door to a much broader audience.
Unfortunately, it has seemed more and more likely lately thatDeath Stranding’s legacy could come to an end with the launch of the sequel. In a recentinterview with VGC, Hideo Kojima confirmed that, while he does already have a concept for a third game, he does not plan to direct it. Ultimately, this means thatDeath Stranding 2could be the last game fans get from the series, especially if it underperforms. That being said, the possibility ofDeath Stranding 3happening shouldn’t be written off too hastily, as there may yet be an opportunity for it to be realized, even without Kojima’s involvement.
Kojima May Step Back, But Death Stranding Might March On
Kojima’s Concept for Death Stranding 3 Might Be a Roadmap
Currently, it’s unclear just how extensiveHideo Kojima’s concept forDeath Stranding 3goes, but it might at least be enough to kickstart a third game if someone at Kojima Productions chose to take the idea and run with it, even after Kojima himself has opted out of heading up the project. With enough details, the studio could build on the foundation laid by the first two games to create a third. If that’s the case, then fans could expectDeath Stranding 3to eventually materialize, though it would be a bit of a gamble without Kojima’s involvement.
In a recent interview with VGC, Hideo Kojima confirmed that, while he does already have a concept for a third game, he does not plan to direct it.
The most prominent danger someone other thanHideo Kojimawould face in developingDeath Stranding 3is potentially alienating the series' most dedicated fans if something were done to compromise the IP’s identity. Another risk in developing a thirdDeath Strandinggame is thatDeath Stranding 2could end on a very definitive note and leave little to no room for a third entry. Since Kojima has stated that he will not be directing a third game if there is one, it’s likely he has already planned forDeath Stranding 2to conclude the series in a way that it wouldn’t make sense for a third installment to keep it going. Nevertheless, it’s still possibleDeath Stranding 3could happen, given the existence of a concept for it already.
The Death Stranding Franchise Is Already Expanding
Something else to consider when it comes to whetherDeath Stranding 3could eventually happen is the fact that the IP is already expanding beyond its initial borders. Currently, both aDeath Strandingmovieand an anime are in development, suggesting Kojima Productions wants to buildDeath Strandinginto a larger multimedia property. The more theDeath Strandinguniverse grows, the more likely a third game in the series becomes, even if it’s an entirely different experience from what fans are familiar with.
EvenifDeath Stranding 2ends the storyKojima set out to tell, the growing presence of the franchise and the developer’s concept for a third game suggest the world ofDeath Strandingmay not be finished just yet. Kojima Productions has already proven it can handle ambitious projects, and should the team ever decide to revisit this universe,Death Stranding 3could still find a way to materialize. It may take time, but the groundwork is already there for the series to continue, long after its creator steps away.
