Death Stranding was an unexpected success for Kojima Productions, and although it had many gamers scratching their heads, it appears that it drew enough fans to justify a sequel. While this may be good news for Hideo Kojima fans, there are many questions surrounding how developers will keep Death Stranding’s gameplay fresh across yet another game. Making deliveries was fun the first time around, but having to do it yet again may leave gamers a bit too fatigued.
In addition to Death Stranding's sequel, gamers can also look forward to an upcoming Xbox game that Kojima Productions is developing using Microsoft’s cloud technology. According to leaks, the project could be a horror game called Overdose. This could be promising, as Kojima has shown interest in the horror genre in the past. Regardless, the next Death Stranding game will have to innovate in order to find success.
Is Death Stranding 2 On the Way?
Kojima Productions has proven to be quite a secretive studio, and while Kojima is always working on something, he never reveals anything until he is ready. There have been rumors that a Death Stranding sequel is in the works, and they were strengthened when Norman Reedus, who played Sam Bridges, let slip in an interview that development on the next game is underway.
No official information has been revealed about the game, and with Kojima being the eccentric creator he is, it is exceptionally difficult to speculate on what to expect. It appears that Reedus will be making a return, which suggests that players will be seeing Sam Bridges again. Following Death Stranding’s ending, there are a few directions a sequel could go in terms of plot. However, a new game may face some problems in terms of keeping gameplay fresh.
Can Death Stranding’s Gameplay Be Repeated?
The gameplay of Death Stranding is quite unconventional, and when it was introduced, it amazed the gaming world. It took what is usually the most boring part of gameplay – walking – and managed to make a full AAA out of it that which was engaging, innovative, and unlike anything that came prior. This was achieved by turning the terrain into an obstacle for players to overcome, forcing them to consider the weight of their cargo, their center of gravity, their shoes, equipment, and various other factors. It also managed to innovate by including multiplayer elements uniquely. Structures that players build in their own worlds can appear in the other players’ worlds, which can be helpful at times. This helps players to not feel too lonely in a game where most of the time is spent hiking in solitude. Players can also leave encouraging signs which can be uplifting to see.
Although the experiment was a success, one of the common criticisms of the game was that the main gameplay loop of making deliveries gets boring after a while. Death Stranding Director’s Cut attempted to remedy this by introducing racetracks, shooting ranges, and stealth activities to make gameplay a little more fast-paced, injecting a bit of action into things. While the game was a good entry point for newcomers, it did nothing to alter the central gameplay.
A Death Stranding sequel featuring a new map with more obstacles to overcome and BTs to sneak past has the potential to be great, but any problems of delivery fatigue will only be steeply multiplied. The first game had the benefit of novelty, while gamers will know what to expect with the sequel, which could lead to delivery fatigue setting in even quicker. This does not mean that Death Stranding’s gameplay is bad, but simply that too much of it could be a bad thing.
Death Stranding was a unique experience that managed to explore emotional themes such as loneliness and grief, and it managed to do so within a sci-fi game filled with horror, humor, and plenty of unexpected twists. Its gameplay is a once-in-a-generation invention, and while it is great, it does not mean that Kojima Productions needs to follow the typical gaming strategy of following up classics with sequels. Death Stranding appears to be the kind of game that stands tall on its own, without the need for a sequel to accentuate its brilliance.
Repeatedly, Kojima has shown his ability to subvert and surpass expectations. Consequently, it would not be too wise to draw any conclusions about any of his studio’s upcoming games yet. There is no telling of the ways Kojima may reinvent Death Stranding's gameplay, but it would undoubtedly be important to do so if a sequel became a reality.
Death Stranding is available on PC, PS4, and PS5