Kojima Confirms Death Stranding 3 Without Involvement

Hideo Kojima has conceived ideas for Death Stranding 3 despite not planning to develop it himself. Discover how the upcoming Death Stranding 2 could spawn multiple sequels and what creative directions Kojima is exploring next.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Under Kojima's Direction

Death Stranding 2 Lays Foundation For Potential Multiple Sequels

Hideo Kojima revealed during a May 8 interview with VGC that while he's envisioned concepts for Death Stranding 3, he won't personally oversee its development. The director explained how a new gameplay mechanic in Death Stranding 2 called "Plate Gates" could theoretically enable endless sequels set in different countries.

"If I implement this Plate Gate concept, the series could continue indefinitely through multiple sequels," Kojima stated. However, he immediately clarified: "I have no plans to develop these sequels myself, though I've already conceptualized another installment. The project could continue under different leadership with my original vision."

Pandemic Influenced Death Stranding 2's Core Themes

Kojima detailed how COVID-19 fundamentally altered Death Stranding 2's narrative direction. While the 2019 original advocated for human connection during increasing global isolation, the sequel will explore more complex perspectives on digital connectivity.

"The pandemic made me reconsider whether constant connection is always beneficial," Kojima reflected. "Our survival depended on digital connections, but now those same technologies create new divisions." These evolving perspectives will manifest through changes in Death Stranding's symbolic strand imagery and through specific characters.

The developer explained how the game's visual motifs reflect this thematic shift: "The first game's strands represented 'Let's Connect,' whereas the sequel suggests 'We Should Not Have Connected.' This progression invites players to question the nature of human connections."

Kojima's Expanding Creative Horizons

While stepping back from potential Death Stranding sequels, Kojima is developing multiple new projects. His collaboration with Jordan Peele on OD (formerly Overdose) with Xbox Game Studios represents a five-year vision requiring unprecedented technical infrastructure.

"Many companies initially thought my proposals were unrealistic," Kojima admitted regarding OD's development. He's also creating an original PlayStation-exclusive espionage game marking his 40th career anniversary, which he describes as "the culmination of my life's work."

Fans can first experience Kojima's evolved storytelling when Death Stranding 2: On The Beach launches for PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025. The director recently addressed release timing considerations following Grand Theft Auto VI's delay announcement.