Summary
- Hideo Kojima teases Red Samurai's importance in Death Stranding 2, fueling discussions among fans.
- The Red Samurai character may be Lou in Death Stranding 2, based on compelling theories.
- Kojima's recent post elevates speculation on Red Samurai's identity, hinting at a major plot thread.
Given how weird the first game was and how little information has been revealed about the sequel so far, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is one of the most mysterious games of 2025. Despite the lengthy trailers that Hideo Kojima has treated fans to, what has been revealed has largely resulted in more questions than answers, adding fuel to the fire of Death Stranding 2's biggest theories by giving fans more to speculate on. While there are plenty of mysteries yet to be solved in the game, however, the Red Samurai character who initially appeared in Death Stranding 2's State of Play announcement trailer is one of its most profound.
The Red Samurai first appeared in Death Stranding 2's State of Play announcement trailer, where it battles Higgs for unknown reasons after a brief but tense exchange between Higgs and Sam. During the battle, the Red Samurai can be frequently heard making baby noises similar to those that Lou made in the first Death Stranding. Needless to say, it sparked a lot of discussion among fans, and now that discussion has been reignited after Kojima made a recent post on X featuring the Red Samurai.
Death Stranding 2 Looks Like the RPG the First Game Only Flirted With
Death Stranding 2's Proficiency system shapes Sam’s growth through gameplay choices, making it far more of an RPG than the first game ever was.
Kojima Just Poured Fuel on the Red Samurai Fire
Kojima’s Latest Tease Revives One of Death Stranding 2's Biggest Unanswered Questions
As if Death Stranding 2's Red Samurai wasn't already mysterious enough, Hideo Kojima recently had to go and make the cryptic nature of the character all the more enticing. In a recent post on X, Kojima seemed to tease the Red Samurai's importance to Death Stranding 2's story, making it appear as though the character plays an even more pivotal role than some fans might have initially expected. The post itself didn't reveal anything outright, of course, as Kojima is known for giving fans just enough information to drive them crazy. Nevertheless, it was enough to revive one of Death Stranding 2's biggest unanswered questions.
In the game's promotional materials, the Red Samurai is depicted as a towering, armored humanoid with a distinctive red mask.
The post in question featured a picture of the Red Samurai, along with the Death Stranding 2 logo and the words "Red Samurai" with three question marks beneath them. It could be that Kojima is simply playing on the heated conversation surrounding the true identity of the Red Samurai, but it's more likely that the Red Samurai really is someone important and Kojima simply wants to get fans talking about it again. It is fairly safe to assume that the reveal of the Red Samurai's true nature and identity in Death Stranding 2 will be a major plot thread, though Kojima has likely prepared something here that no one would expect.
The Red Samurai Could Be Lou
For now, it's only possible to speculate on whom the Red Samurai could be. One of the more justifiable theories is that the Red Samurai is, in fact, Lou, and this is based on more than the character's voice alone. In the first Death Stranding, Higgs fires his gun at Sam, after which Lou takes control of Sam's Odradek to shield him from the bullets. In the State of Play announcement trailer for Death Stranding 2, the Red Samurai rises to Sam's aid against Higgs, suggesting that it could be Lou — especially with the accompanying baby sounds.
It is fairly safe to assume that the reveal of the Red Samurai's true nature and identity in Death Stranding 2 will be a major plot thread, though Kojima has likely prepared something here that no one would expect.
According to the same trailer, it's implied that Higgs actually killed Lou when Sam accuses him of doing so, and Sam also finds Lou's pod emitting signs associated with BTs, indicating her death. As such, it could be that Lou's Ka (spirit) has manifested as the Red Samurai to protect Sam. This is by far the most compelling theory, and it would align with Kojima's recent post seeming to elevate the importance of the Red Samurai to Death Stranding 2's story. That being said, Kojima has been known to throw fans for a loop, so this could simply be one of those times.
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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
