Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is right around the corner, and as the wait for the next chapter grows shorter, gamers will soon get to see what the rest of Sam’s journey has to offer. Picking up where the last game left off, Death Stranding 2 promises a story that dives even deeper into its predecessor’s themes of connection.
With a blend of returning characters and newcomers, Hideo Kojima has clearly let his imagination go even wilder this time around. Death Stranding 2 already looks mind-bending, and for fans of the first game, upping the wackiness factor is a thrilling prospect. Death Stranding 2‘s characters help tell Kojima’s strange and charming story, but protagonist Sam remains at the heart. Portrayed by Norman Reedus, Sam has become a beloved lead character, but Kojima almost let players have a little bit of extra fun with his appearance in Death Stranding 2.
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Death Stranding 2 Includes Surprising Melee Weapon
Death Stranding 2 will let players use a surprising melee weapon that has already been featured in some of the game’s previous trailers.
Death Stranding 2 Almost Let Players Customize Sam’s Hair
Kojima Considered a Hair Growth Feature
As reported by Vice, Kojima recently revealed that during the early stages of the game’s development, Death Stranding 2 almost featured its own hair growth system. This type of mechanic isn’t exactly anything new, though. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3 boasted such a feature, but it would have been exciting to see it in the context of the Death Stranding franchise.
Since the series focuses on traveling for long periods of time, a hair growth mechanic would only make sense, but Kojima ultimately decided to scrap the feature after coming to the conclusion that players may get carried away with customizing Sam. With Sam being such a central figure in Death Stranding‘s world, Kojima’s concerns about players making him unrecognizable are understandable. However, it already makes the argument for the feature being included in a potential director’s cut.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches for the PS5 on June 26.
A Director’s Cut of Death Stranding 2 Feels Inevitable
- The director’s cut of the first Death Stranding was released in 2021, two years after the game’s initial launch.
The director’s cut brought fans of the base version an onslaught of fresh content. Updates like new vehicles, a buildable racetrack, new items, the Buddy Bot, and updated combat are just a few of the changes made in the director’s cut. This version of Death Stranding is a game-changer, and it would be surprising if Death Stranding 2 didn’t follow suit. The sequel is already promising some big changes, like a change of scenery by venturing to Australia, but there’s no telling what Kojima Productions decided to leave on the cutting room floor.
Some of Death Stranding 2‘s new cast members include Elle Fanning, Luca Marinelli, and George Miller.
It’s incredibly possible that a hair and beard growth mechanic could be the tip of the iceberg. However, with just that feature alone, a director’s cut is bound to be a lot of fun. The Death Stranding franchise has its goofy moments, but giving players too much agency with Sam’s appearance right out of the gate may have proved too jarring. It makes sense for Kojima to want players to take in the story without too many distractions.
On the other hand, though, seeing how Kojima Productions approached such a mechanic is likely to boast its own unique twist, so players will hopefully get to see it down the road. Right now, it’s unclear if the next few years will bring forth a director’s cut, but because of Kojima’s love for fun concepts, such a release with cut content is probably a safe bet.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
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June 26, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
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Decima
- Franchise
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Death Stranding
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
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June 26, 2025
