Hideo Kojima is known for his ability to weave complex narratives and crafting unique gaming experiences. After the success of Death Stranding in 2019, players have been asking him about the sequel. It took some time but the player’s wishes have been heard as the sequel will be released in 2025.
However, the reason why the game got delayed for so long was due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The influence of the pandemic not only affected the daily life of Kojima and his team but also made him rewrite the anticipated sequel from the ground up.
Hideo Kojima Explains the Reason Behind Death Stranding 2 Delays
The pandemic influenced the whole world and one of the most deeply affected fields was the creative industry. Hideo Kojima, known for his work in Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, now has his own studio which was also affected and had to delay various projects.
In an interview, Kojima explained that the fear of going out and isolation changed his perspective on the world and his work. Due to the new profound perspective, Kojima changed the narrative approach for Death Stranding 2.
He realized that to reflect the shift in the social life of the players and to resonate with them on a deeper level, a rewrite was necessary. He said:
Fiction changes when something that big happens. When something takes place that nobody thought was possible, works of fiction written before it become less effective as entertainment.
Kojima wanted to reimagine the storyline, characters, and interactions to address the express the sense of disconnection and the human need for reconnection that had become more relevant during the pandemic. He explained:
The players themselves have gone through the pandemic, and a story written before that experience just wouldn’t resonate with them in the same way, whether it was a fantasy story or a sci-fi one.
This shows that Kojima is not only committed to delivering a game that entertains the players but also to providing them with an experience they have gone through in real life. It looks like his desire to create a narrative that resonates with the players is never-ending.
The Anticipation for Death Stranding 2 is High
It looks like with the new approach for the sequel, Kojima is aiming to build upon the groundwork laid down by the first game. With the rework of the whole story, he is trying to innovate and integrate the new insights and themes inspired by the pandemic.
After hearing the interview, the fans of the series and Kojima are very excited and can’t wait to see how much the pandemic played a role in the gameplay and the narrative of Death Stranding 2. Players also want to see how the game will push the conventional boundaries of storytelling in video games.
In the end, while Kojima Productions is working on the sequel Death Stranding 2 which is set to release somewhere in 2025 for PlayStation, players are waiting to see how this new iteration of the game shows Hideo Kojima’s adaptability and creativity.
Are you excited about the sequel? Tell us in the comment section below.