Summary
- Death Stranding 2's gameplay and world unveiled in recent previews, taking players from Mexico to Australia.
- Australia serves as a crucial element in Death Stranding 2, featuring environmental hazards and a unique aerial camera feature.
- The intricate terrain, weather conditions, and challenges in Australia make it a standout character in Death Stranding 2.
More of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach's story, gameplay, and world have finally been unveiled via some hands-on previews of the game that went live recently. For the most part, these previews covered the world and gameplay side of things, but that was more than enough to give fans a deeper look at what Death Stranding 2 has going on. According to the previews, Death Stranding 2 will have players starting in Mexico but eventually take them to Australia, where they will be spending most of their time.
Similarly to Todd Howard's philosophy with Fallout's Wasteland, Death Stranding 2's Australia already feels like the main character, based on what previews have had to say about it. Whether it's the frequent environmental hazards players are required to navigate or the aerial camera that lets them get a massive overview of the surrounding area, Australia is clearly one of Death Stranding 2's most important elements, perhaps even more so than the open world was in the first game. This is to be expected, of course, since open-world traversal is such a core part of Death Stranding 2's gameplay, just as it was in the first game.
Death Stranding 2 Looks Like the RPG the First Game Only Flirted With
Death Stranding 2's Proficiency system shapes Sam’s growth through gameplay choices, making it far more of an RPG than the first game ever was.
Death Stranding 2's Australia Is Much More Than a Setting
Australia Is an Unforgiving Puzzle Box of Environmental Hazards
It has been known for quite some time that Death Stranding 2's open world would be filled with environmental hazards for players to navigate — even more than the first game. In other words, while players are likely to spend plenty of time engaging in combat with actual enemies, they may spend just as much time battling the natural threats of the open world. According to the recent previews, Death Stranding 2's environmental hazards see both Sam and the world around him responding to them in realistic ways.
Similarly to Todd Howard's philosophy with Fallout's Wasteland, Death Stranding 2's Australia already feels like the main character, based on what previews have had to say about it.
For example, rivers can double in width when it rains, meaning players will be working hard to keep Sam and his cargo dry. Additionally, earthquakes can cause Sam to lose his footing, sandstorms decrease visibility, and there's even a day/night cycle that directly affects gameplay. Fortunately, players can improve Sam's traversal skills by increasing his Proficiency in certain areas. Navigating rough terrain more often, for instance, will improve Sam's ability to do so again in the future. Nevertheless, all of these elements are still a sign that Australia is front and center in the action in Death Stranding 2.
The Aerial Camera Puts the Spotlight on Australia
If the added environmental hazards weren't enough to convince fans that Australia was hogging the spotlight in Death Stranding 2, its new aerial camera feature should be the final piece of evidence. Death Stranding 2's aerial camera allows players to zoom way out to get a view of the open world at large and any potential hazards Sam Porter Bridges might be headed for. It's essentially a birds-eye view of Sam and the surrounding environment that really highlights the open world, making Australia once again feel like the main character.
While the main purpose of the aerial camera is to give players an idea of where they should head next, it's also a great way to simply take in the view.
Death Stranding 2 may revolve around Sam, Fragile, and the mysteries of the Beach, but Australia is shaping up to be the real star of the show. Its constantly shifting terrain, harsh weather conditions, and the tools designed to navigate it all point to a world that is meant to be studied, respected, and overcome. With systems like the aerial camera reinforcing its scale and complexity, Australia is far more than a setting in Death Stranding 2, as it actively challenges players at every turn.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
