Before you can start Sam Porter Bridges' adventure in Death Stranding 2 the game asks you for your birthday. It mentions that people born under certain constellations may be more susceptible to developing the DOOMS condition, but doesn't really explain much more beyond that. Plus, with the original Death Stranding having a special birthday cutscene, some players may be wondering how important their birthday is in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Here's everything you need to know.
Should You Play Death Stranding 1 Before Playing DS2?
Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding universe is pretty complex and narratively dense. So, should players play Death Stranding 1 before its sequel?
What Does Your Birthday Do in Death Stranding 2?
Don't Worry About DOOMS
While the initial message after entering your chosen birthday can sound a bit ominous—especially if you've selected a date that falls under the Cancer, Pisces, Cetus, and Delphinus constellations— there is no major impact on the difficulty of the gameplay experience or on the gameplay in general in Death Stranding 2.
The message that comes up after entering your birthday mentions:
"Whilst DOOMS can afflict almost anyone, those born under constellations with a greater connection to the Beach-including Cancer, Pisces, Cetus, and Delphinus-are said to be more susceptible to developing the condition. It is believed that such individuals are fated to walk a life path fraught with disquiet and turmoil."
If you're unsure what the dates fall under each of those constellations, I've listed them all below:
- Cancer: June 21 to July 23
- Pisces: February 19 to March 20
- Cetus: November
- Delphinus: September
Birthday Cutscenes
That being said, there is a cutscene that players can enjoy if they play Death Stranding 2 on their birthday and enter their private room on the DHV Magellan. When they do, a number of the characters in the game all come together to wish you a happy birthday and give you some in-game gifts. These are:
- 900 Likes
- Heartman's Star-Shaped Glasses (cosmetic item)
- A slice of pizza (increases stamina by 10%)
You can only witness the cutscene once you've unlocked the DHV Magellan, which happens during Episode 3. If your birthday passes before you've reached the Magellan, you'll have to wait until the following year to witness the birthday cutscene for yourself.
Fans may have been expecting this, given Kojima hid another birthday surprise in the original Death Stranding for players, courtesy of Mads Mikkelsen's Cliff, on that occasion.
Because there isn't any major impact on the gameplay based on your birthdate, I'd just enter your actual one in real life. However, if you're desperate to witness the cutscene for yourself, set it to be in the near future so you've got time to reach Episode 3 and unlock the Magellan.
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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
