In a year packed with blockbuster releases, the stars have aligned to make June 26 an exciting day for two distinct fan bases. Early summer is always an exciting time for gamers as it's home to events like Summer Game Fest, along with other industry showcases for what players can expect to see released in the coming years. June also tends to see some major game releases as well, and this year Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Persona 5: The Phantom X are teed up to make a summer splash on the same day.
Although there isn't a lot of overlap between the Persona and Death Stranding series, other than both's brief period of PlayStation exclusivity, fans of these franchises have had to wait a long time for these two games' respective releases. It's almost serendipitous that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Persona 5: The Phantom X would release on the same day, since the two games won't really be competing with each other. However, for players excited about both titles, June 26 will be worth marking on their calendars.
Death Stranding 2's Australia Already Feels Like the Main Character
Australia is more than a setting in Death Stranding 2, as its hazards and scale make it a living force that encourages players to plan their steps.
Death Stranding and Persona Fans Have a Lot to Celebrate on June 26
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Brings Players Back to Kojima's Post-Apocalyptic World
The original 2019 release of Death Stranding was momentous, as it marked Kojima's first major project since leaving Konami and the Metal Gear series. Although the title was divisive at the time for its heavy emphasis on walking and minimal combat, the story, characters, and atmosphere of Death Stranding earned it a dedicated following of fans waiting to see where Sam Porter Bridges' story would go next. Nearly six years later, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach looks to take a bold concept to the next level.
From the previews of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, it's clear that this sequel is primed to further develop the original's "strand-like" gameplay while weaving more combat into the core gameplay loop. The fact that Death Stranding 2 is fixing some of the issues the original was criticized for is a sign that the game aims to grow its fan base even more. As such, it's possible that June 26 could be the release day of one of 2025's Game of the Year contenders that interested players won't want to miss.
Persona 5: The Phantom X Makes Its Global Debut
The lead-up to Persona 5: The Phantom X's Western release has also seemed to drag on despite not being as long of a wait as that of Death Stranding 2. Players in China, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, and South Korea have had access to the game for over a year now, but whether the game would see a wider release seemed up in the air until Sega and Atlus confirmed the game would be getting a worldwide release on June 26. Despite being a mobile spin-off of the Persona series, Persona 5: The Phantom X is robust enough of an experience that it marks an important release for Persona fans eager for new content ahead of P6.
P5X follows a similar format to the original Persona 5 with players taking on the role of the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating Palaces, and taking down their rulers. However, The Phantom X tells an alternate version of Persona 5's story with a different cast of main characters founding the Phantom Thieves, including protagonist Wonder. Gameplay is very similar to the original game as well, albeit with the addition of gacha mechanics as the main way players can recruit new party members.
Persona 5: The Phantom X is slated to release on PC, iOS, and Android, whereas Death Stranding 2 is currently releasing as a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
Between obvious genre differences and a lack of overlapping release platforms, it seems like Persona 5: The Phantom X and Death Stranding 2's launches are destined to pass one another like ships in the night. However, individually, these two releases mark significant points in their respective series, and the fact that they are both occurring on June 26 is worth celebrating.
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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
