Epic Death Stranding 2 Trailer Reveals Release Date, New Gameplay, and Some Serious Metal Gear Vibes

Hideo Kojima unveiled a breathtaking new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, simultaneously announcing its release date.

Death Stranding 2 launches exclusively on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025. Digital Deluxe and Collector's Edition purchasers enjoy two days of early access, starting June 24th.

The ten-minute trailer, showcased below, blends stunning cinematics and gameplay footage. A standout feature is a character many believe strongly resembles Snake from Kojima's iconic Metal Gear series.

Italian actor Luca Marinelli portrays Neil, a character who dons a bandana reminiscent of Snake's signature style and leads a squad of unsettling soldiers. Neil appears to be a soldier wielding an assault rifle.

The Metal Gear allusions continue with the Magellan Man, a colossal tar-like creature fused with the DHV Magellan, bearing a striking resemblance to Metal Gear Rex. (A 15-inch Magellan Man statue is included in the Collector's Edition). The Magellan Man, seemingly piloted like a Pacific Rim-style mech, confronts gigantic, terrifying tar monsters.

The standard edition of Death Stranding 2 is priced at $69.99. The Collector's Edition is $229.99, and the Digital Deluxe Edition is $79.99. Pre-orders open March 17th.

A sequel to 2019's Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2 poses the haunting question, "Should We Have Connected?" The official synopsis reads:

Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam, alongside his companions, embarks on a new journey to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they traverse a world plagued by otherworldly enemies, obstacles, and the haunting question: should we have connected? Step by step, legendary game creator Hideo Kojima reshapes the world once more.