Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is less than a day away from its full-blown launch. For those who ordered the Digital Deluxce Edition of the game, the next chapter in Hideo Kojima's post-apocalyptic story was available 48 hours in advance. Since that two-day window opened up, the story of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has begun to unfold.
Protagonist Sam Porter Bridges is back, and this time around, his job of reconnecting people has expanded beyond the UCA. Sam's new journey brings him to Mexico and Australia, along with new team members to help him and Fragile complete their mission. Like the first game, Sam encounters a variety of different people along the way, and whether it's through cameos or the music featured throughout, Hideo Kojima takes every possible moment to pay tribute to his favorite artists.
As a Father, Death Stranding 2 Is Making Me Never Want to Leave Home Again
Death Stranding 2 is stirring something unexpected in me as a father, reshaping how I see Lou and making it harder than ever to leave her behind.
In Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima's Love for Pop Culture is Made Crystal Clear
The Music
Death Stranding 2 takes its use of music to new heights. One of the biggest upgrades brought to the music is how it adapts to the player. It makes the journey feel even more cinematic than its predecessor, and a strong roster of songs helps set the tone, starting from the opening scene. With an original soundtrack composed by Woodkid, Caroline Polachek's "On the Beach," and songs from Chvrches, Death Stranding 2's music brings players a beautiful post-apocalyptic playlist to enjoy between deliveries. Death Stranding 2 is all about the journey, and its musical offerings help drive that message home.
Death Stranding 2's music evolves based on a player's in-game travel choices. Depending on which route a player takes, the music will change to match Sam's movements.
The A-List Cast
The first Death Stranding game was filled with major actors. Kojima packed the cast with actors like Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, and Mads Mikkelsen, but Death Stranding 2 takes this even further. Director George Miller, Elle Fanning, Luca Marinelli, and Shioli Kutsuna are just the tip of the iceberg of whom to expect.
Even beyond the main cast, though, many of the preppers Sam comes in contact with feature some of Kojima's favorite creators. Chvrches isn't just part of the game's soundtrack. The band is featured as a group of animal shelter workers that Sam meets after going on a delivery to rescue a kangaroo. Mike Flanagan, the director of hits like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, Ma Dong-seok from Train to Busan and The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, and the Philippou brothers help round out the cast of exciting cameos.
Even the smallest character can be a respected creator or artist, and that's one of the many aspects that makes Death Stranding 2's exploration so great. Connecting with the world around Sam is a central point of Death Stranding 2, and it's a great mirror of how Kojima views pop culture as a way to connect to the outside world. It only takes a quick look at his Instagram to realize just how much pop culture means to Kojima. He's an avid lover of film, television, music, and everything in between, and that passion is quickly felt in Death Stranding 2.
Death Stranding will soon expand its reach in pop culture, as A24 is making a live-action film adaptation.
Death Stranding 2 Reminds Players That Art is One of Humanity's Biggest Connectors
Both Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2 focus on connection and how that can be both a good and bad thing. The world becoming so intertwined has its downsides, like international conflict, but the upside is that people get to experience unique art from across the globe. Art can be one of the quickest ways to bring a group of people together, so it only makes sense for Hideo Kojima to honor his love of pop culture in a story where connection is the heart.
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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
