This article contains possible spoilers for Death Stranding 2.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s ESRB rating has appeared online a few weeks before the game is set to launch. The sequel to Hideo Kojima’s post-apocalyptic action-adventure title picks up where the first Death Stranding leaves off, with Sam Porter Bridges and Fragile working to reconnect the world through their new organization Drawbridge. Death Stranding 2 will also introduce several new characters and gameplay concepts, and Kojima has even suggested it could be the last entry in the budding franchise.
Death Stranding 2 launches on PlayStation 5 on June 26, so there is still time for new information about the game to be revealed before it hits stores. Hideo Kojima himself will appear at the upcoming Summer Game Fest 2025 later this week, and there is a special Death Stranding 2 Game Premiere event scheduled for June 8. Kojima will be joined by some special guests at this event, and there will even be live footage of Death Stranding 2 in action.
Hideo Kojima Had to Turn Down Cameo Requests in Death Stranding 2
A new report states that after scanning so many people for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hideo Kojima had to turn down half of the cameos.
In the meantime, fans have a clearer picture of what to expect from Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which now has an official rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board. According to the ESRB website, Death Stranding 2 is rated “M” for “Mature,” with the description text mentioning Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, and Violence as the reasons for this.
Death Stranding 2 Gets M Rating Ahead of Release
The ESRB’s Rating Summary for Death Stranding 2 goes further into why the game has the rating it does, describing how players engage in combat against human enemies, robots, and “ghostly apparitions” - most likely the tar-like BTs from the previous game. Sam will wield melee weapons (such as a “battle guitar”) and firearms and use stealth takedowns to kill enemies. Non-combat-related moments of violence seemingly include a man's hands and legs sliced off by a robotic samurai, a man being set on fire, and a man being cut in half by a giant machine.
These descriptions from the ESRB might not come as too much of a surprise, as the original Death Stranding and its later Director’s Cut also had an M Rating for similar reasons. While Death Stranding 2 could be the last mainline game in the series, a live-action Death Stranding movie is in the works at A24, and a Death Stranding anime adaptation was also recently confirmed. Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions are involved with both projects.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
From legendary game creator Hideo Kojima comes an emotionally charged evolution of this genre-defying experience.
In the expansive open world of DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, countless areas with vastly different terrains and environments are seamlessly connected, and the changing time, weather and nature itself provide a variety of landscapes and challenges.
There are various obstacles that will prevent Sam from completing his mission. Face them head-on, sneak around, or completely avoid dangerous areas. Choose your approach to any situation.
Eleven months after the events of the original DEATH STRANDING, rejoin Sam and his companions on a new journey to save humanity from extinction and discover the answer to this haunting question: Should we have connected?
Join Sam for the next chapter of his journey as he attempts to connect Australia to the Chiral Network. Navigate a living environment through day and night cycles, natural disasters – including earthquakes, sandstorms and forest fires – and Timefall, a rain that instantly ages everything it touches.
To traverse this dangerous landscape, you’ll need to build new types of infrastructure, master specialized equipment and confront (or evade) the otherworldly creatures that roam the fractured world.
Face enigmatic Mech soldiers, as-yet unseen BTs and new boss types that will push Sam to his limits. As you prepare for each journey, you’ll be able to fabricate weapons like machine guns, shotguns and grenade launchers to deal with threats. Or, choose to avoid confrontation altogether with stealth – using decoy holograms, silent takedowns and long-ranged gear.
Through APAS enhancements, Sam can learn new skills that will improve his odds of survival, like enhanced weapon fire-rates or reduced movement noise to help him stay hidden.
The iconic Social Strand System of DEATH STRANDING returns to encourage asynchronous connection across the globe. Your in-game actions affect how other players interact with the world and vice-versa – so connect, collaborate and help your fellow Porters on their journeys.
Leave a “Like” on a useful bridge, donate resources to community projects, store field ware in shared lockers and finish incomplete deliveries as you stumble upon dropped cargo from other Porters. As you support other players on their journeys, your own reputation will grow, giving you access to valuable resources and new gear.
- Engine
- Decima
- Franchise
- Death Stranding
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
- June 26, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Horror, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
