Death Stranding 2: On the Beach introduces a new chapter in Hideo Kojima's mind-bending post-apocalyptic world. The story of Sam Porter Bridges and his mission to help connect a fractured United States is steeped in wild lore, and Death Stranding 2 has been teasing a story that takes these concepts to even stranger levels.
Leading up to its June launch, Kojima Productions has released a handful of teasers for Death Stranding 2 that each raised more questions than presented answers. From brand-new characters to the central plot, Death Stranding 2 remains incredibly mysterious. The first chapter featured plenty of mind-blowing moments, but the sequel aims to one-up its predecessor, and one of the most obvious ways in which this is being done is through the introduction of a BT mech called the Magellan Man.
Death Stranding: Why You Should Start Over in 2025
As the first independent franchise from Hideo Kojima, this year is the perfect time for gamers to jump back into Death Stranding.
Death Stranding 2's Magellan Man Seems Destined to Be One of the Game's High Points
- The DHV Magellan is a specialized tar-sailing ship that plays a major role in Death Stranding 2.
- At SXSW, Kojima presented a brand-new trailer that shows the Magellan being mounted onto a giant BT's headless body, acting as the head.
It seems as though Kojima has taken note of collaborator Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim and has brought his own version of Jaegers into the world of Death Stranding 2. In the SXSW trailer, Heartman is piloting the Magellan Man and uses it to fight other BTs. It's a bold leap forward, considering that the first Death Stranding was light on the action.
This hard lean into more action-packed moments makes Death Stranding 2 incredibly compelling, but it's also likely that the Magellan Man sequence is set to be a major highlight of the game. Not only is the Magellan Man a fascinating design, but it has been specifically emphasized in some of the game's marketing. The Collector's Edition of Death Stranding 2 features several exclusive perks, but one of the most notable is the collectible Magellan Man statue that fans can display.
The Collector's Edition also features 48-hour early access, a collector's box, a 3-inch Dollman figurine, collectible cards, and a personalized letter from Hideo Kojima.
The Magellan Man Showdown Teases a Bolder Path for Death Stranding 2
The first chapter of Death Stranding was bold in its own right. While at first a lot of people wrote it off as a walking simulator, the game has managed to draw in gamers since 2019, recently passing 20 million players. Now that Kojima has thrown more action into the mix, it will be fascinating to see if even more are drawn to this strange world where ghostly tar-covered apparitions roam the countryside.
In the SXSW trailer, Heartman is piloting the Magellan Man and uses it to fight other BTs.
The Magellan Man seems to bring a fun dose of Pacific Rim and Gundam to Death Stranding 2, and it will be interesting to see just how big of a role this mech plays within the story. Based on early footage, it's clear that Death Stranding 2 is expanding its world in more ways than one. Between the Magellan Man and more dynamic weather and terrain, this sequel has the potential to be a stronger experience overall.
Death Stranding is also getting a movie adaptation. Produced by A24, the film is set to be directed by Michael Sarnoski.
Death Stranding 2 is Just Around the Corner
- The game launches for PS5 on June 26, 2025.
There has been a flood of questions leading up to Death Stranding 2, and eager gamers will only have to wait a couple more months until those answers are given. There's no telling what Kojima Productions has planned this time around, but the Magellan Man hints that the sequel could be a uniquely wild ride.
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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
