Summary
- Kojima may not direct Death Stranding 3, potentially ending the series after the upcoming sequel.
- Despite initial polarizing reception, Death Stranding series remains a long-term success critically and commercially.
- Kojima's pursuit of innovation means risking the success and potential longevity of the Death Stranding franchise.
Kojima Productions' Death Stranding series is without a doubt one of the weirdest and most divisive gaming franchises on the market, and yet it has somehow achieved success and a following committed to seeing what's next. As a result, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is now on the way, nearly six years after the first game's release, and while it brings several major changes in tow, it still looks every bit like the Death Stranding fans remember. Unfortunately, it may and likely will be the last game in the series, as Kojima plans to move on to other things following its release.
According to an interview with VGC, Kojima clarified that he does have a concept for Death Stranding 3, but also that he doesn't plan to direct it. While it's possible someone else could still take that concept and run with it, the more likely outcome is that Death Stranding's legacy will end after the launch of the sequel. However, it's a bit of a risky move for Kojima Productions to take, especially if Death Stranding 2 ends up being even more successful than the first game. In the end, Kojima may end up leaving a lot of money on the table, even though he has proven himself to be one who cares more about telling a story than simply making money off of it.
Death Stranding 2’s Pacing Could Lower Its Barrier to Entry
Death Stranding 2’s faster pace and early access to gear could make it much easier for new players to stay engaged through the game's opening hours.
Kojima May Not Want to Leave Death Stranding Behind
The Death Stranding Series Still Has Long Legs
Despite being quite polarizing at launch, Death Stranding has proven to be a long-term success, both critically and commercially. Between its impressive sales numbers, consistent player engagement, and the strength of its worldbuilding, the franchise could remain a source of profit for Kojima Productions for years to come. This is further evidenced by how much less divisive Death Stranding 2 is proving to be in early previews of the game, even to the point that Kojima has expressed that it isn't as polarizing as he would like it to be.
According to an interview with VGC, Kojima clarified that he does have a concept for Death Stranding 3, but also that he doesn't plan to direct it.
Should Death Stranding 2 turn out to be even more successful than its predecessor, it would undoubtedly create room for a third, fourth, and perhaps even fifth game in the series to eventually be brought to life. Realistically, Kojima Productions could keep the series alive for over a decade, spinning out sequels, spinoffs, and plenty of DLC without ever burning it out. From a business standpoint, that makes walking away from it after Death Stranding 2 a much bigger risk than it might initially seem.
Chasing Innovation Carries a Cost
Kojima has never been one to play it safe, and that's exactly what makes his decision not to make Death Stranding 3 so interesting. Despite already having an idea for Death Stranding 3, his choice to abandon it suggests a willingness to let go of what is already working in pursuit of something new and untested. For fans, it means the next chapter of Kojima Productions could go in any number of wild directions, but it also means the studio is stepping away from a kind of security that not every game developer has.
Death Stranding may be a strange franchise, but it’s also a proven one. There's a very real risk that whatever comes next may not land nearly as well, especially without the brand power or emotional investment Death Stranding now carries. And for a relatively young, independent studio, that's no small gamble.
That said, chasing money has never really seemed to be Kojima's way, and that's made evident by his apparent desire for Death Stranding 2 to be more divisive than it currently seems. At the end of the day, what Kojima seems to want more than anything else is to create something original, unorthodox, and meaningful that players can connect with mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually at times that they can't with just anything else. Nevertheless, even if it's not money Kojima is after, it may be hard for fans to lay Death Stranding to rest after the sequel, even if it puts a nice cap on the series' overarching story.
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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
