It’s not every day the gaming industry sees competing platforms collaborating on a project, and that’s especially true of a company like Nintendo. In fact, Nintendo has historically been known for being one of the most exclusive platform holders in the industry, though not without a reason. Where other game companies like Microsoft might focus more on their games, Nintendo’s primary strategy has always been to sell its hardware through exclusive software, making its consoles indispensable by locking its biggest franchises to its own systems. However, the borders of this long-held exclusivity may be beginning to blur, as Nintendo can be found in the credits for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Somewhere in the credits for Death Stranding 2, players can find the name “Nintendo Pictures” listed as a company that assisted in the game’s development. For some, this might be an eye-widening moment, since Nintendo has rarely been seen collaborating with competing companies, like Death Stranding 2‘s Sony, on projects. In reality, Nintendo Pictures’ involvement in the game’s development makes sense, potentially from a contractural standpoint, but it could still be a sign that Nintendo’s doors aren’t as closed as it has led the industry to believe.
Nintendo Pictures’ Work on Death Stranding 2 Blurs Platform Lines
Nintendo Pictures’ History With Death Stranding Goes Deeper Than It Seems
Those who never paid attention to the first game’s credits and, for some reason, watched the sequel’s more closely, may not realize that Nintendo Pictures’ involvement in Death Stranding 2‘s development isn’t anything new. Before Nintendo Pictures was named as such, it operated under the name “Dynamo Pictures” and actually worked on 2019’s Death Stranding before being acquired by Nintendo in 2022. As such, without the name “Nintendo” attached, it probably didn’t catch more than a passing glance as the first game’s credits rolled.
Nintendo Pictures’ involvement in the game’s development makes sense, potentially from a contractural standpoint, but it could still be a sign that Nintendo’s doors aren’t as closed as it has led the industry to believe.
This is ultimately why “Nintendo Pictures” appears in the credits for Death Stranding 2 as a key motion capture contributor, as it’s more than likely the result of a contractural obligation Dynamo was bound to that carried over after its acquisition by Nintendo. As such, this could very well mean nothing for Nintendo reaching beyond its own platforms for collaborative purposes, especially if that contract is up after Death Stranding 2. At the same time, it could also be a sign of what Nintendo is willing to do in the future, which is quite out of character for the veteran video game company.
This Collaboration Could Signal Bigger Creative Partnerships in the Future
Again, this could be brushed off as a simple leftover agreement, but if it’s somehow more than that, the industry could see Nintendo finally loosening up on some of its self-imposed restrictions. In the past, Nintendo has had a lot of friction with third parties. For example, in the cartridge era, publishers like Square Enix moved to Sony’s PlayStation because of Nintendo’s restrictive cartridge policies and higher production costs. That’s why Nintendo Pictures’ name appearing in the credits for Death Stranding 2 today is such a big deal, and why it could signal bigger creative partnerships for the giant in the future.
Nintendo gets the brunt of a lot of jabs, memes, and sarcastic remarks for being such an exclusive company, but its strategy for ensuring its consoles remain the star has made sense for what it wants to accomplish. Even with that strategy firmly established, however, perhaps Death Stranding 2 is the first sign of Nintendo letting down its defenses a bit, even if it’s just to dabble in collaborations and experiment with the possibility of working with third parties. If that’s true, it’s possible the gaming industry is already on an entirely different trajectory that remains somewhat hidden for now.
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
