Kojima Confirms No Death Stranding 3 in Development

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 3 May Not Be Under Kojima’s Lead

Death Stranding 2 Makes Way For "Endless Sequels"

Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has revealed that he already has an idea for what Death Stranding 3 could be, but he won’t be the one to bring it to life. In an interview with VGC on May 8, Kojima explained that a concept introduced in DS2, known as "Plate Gates," could pave the way for multiple sequels. These gates would allow the series to explore different countries, thus enabling "endless sequels."

Kojima stated, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels." However, he quickly clarified that he has no plans to work on Death Stranding 3 himself. He added, "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 means that while fans may not see a Kojima-helmed sequel soon, other developers might take the reins with his blessing.

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. The first game was released in November 2019, just before the world went into lockdown. Reflecting on the timing, Kojima said, "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 mirrored the game’s emphasis on connectivity through the Chiral Network, which Kojima likened to the real-world Internet. He noted, "We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online." However, he also pointed out a downside: "The same Internet is now the cause of division for humanity." He expressed concerns about the metaverse and how it might reduce genuine human interactions, saying, "Communication between human beings is not meant to be this way. You meet people by chance or see sights you didn’t expect to see. With the way we were headed, you would lose all of that."

The lockdown experience led Kojima to reconsider the theme of DS2. He initially thought, "Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much," and this introspection is reflected in one of the game’s characters. The strands in the game’s logos hint at their themes; the first game's logo symbolized "Let’s Connect," while the sequel's suggests "We should not have connected." Kojima concluded, "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

Despite stepping away from directing Death Stranding 3, Kojima is not slowing down. In December 2023, he and filmmaker Jordan Peele unveiled their new game, OD (formerly Overdose), at The Game Awards 2023, 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 "next-generation action espionage game." Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this will be a brand-new original IP. Reflecting on his career, Kojima said, "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 on this game will begin once DS2 is complete.

While these projects are still on the horizon, fans won't have to wait long for new content from Kojima. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is set to release on June 26, 2025, on PlayStation 5. For the latest updates on the game, be sure to check out our Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!