Latest news with #DeathStranding2
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
The ES TIMES – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was released exclusively on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025, offering a new experience developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Hideo Kojima continues his signature approach of cinematic design, philosophical storytelling, and genre-defying gameplay. Norman Reedus reprises his role as Sam Porter Bridges, joined once again by Léa Seydoux and Troy Baker. New faces include Elle Fanning and George Miller. This time, the story unfolds in post-apocalyptic Mexico and the vast expanses of Australia, reinforcing the game's core message: the importance of human connection in a fractured world. We received a review code directly from PlayStation, allowing us to explore the game and share our insights with you. A fragile peace shatters Death Stranding 2 begins roughly a year after the events of the first game, with Sam and Lou enjoying a quiet life in northern Mexico. Their peace is disrupted when Fragile arrives with a new mission—to expand a communications network called Drawbridge. With BRIDGES now dissolved, a new organization, APAC, emerges as Fragile seeks to reconnect fragmented human settlements around the globe. The mission begins In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Sam embarks on a dangerous journey to reconnect isolated communities across treacherous terrain. While some story points feel familiar, the emotional resonance is stronger. Kojima's blend of science fiction and metaphor remains impactful. A more focused world A more focused world Set in a world on the edge of collapse, the game presents a more coherent and grounded narrative than its predecessor. Unity is the central theme, as couriers risk their lives to reconnect Australia. Unlike the original, this installment emphasizes clear objectives and well-paced subplots. Characters and events are introduced efficiently, maintaining narrative flow. Every scene has purpose—something the first game sometimes lacked. Fantasy and surreal elements are still present, but are now more tightly integrated into the story. Characters like Tomorrow, Fragile, and Rainy receive meaningful introductions. The DHV Magellan serves both as a narrative device and emotional anchor. Sam, once distant, has become more emotionally accessible. His development is one of the game's highlights. Improved use of flashbacks Improved use of flashbacks Flashbacks return but are now smoother and often optional. They feel natural and are easier to follow. Enemies remain visually and narratively threatening, enhancing tension and driving the plot forward. Kojima's philosophical themes remain, but are better structured. The narrative follows a logical progression, keeping players engaged. A deeper world for the curious A robust in-game guide offers detailed explanations on characters, events, and lore. It's accessible even during cutscenes, helping new and returning players avoid confusion. Death Stranding 2 addresses many of the original's narrative weaknesses. Its themes are clearer, its structure more refined, and its emotional beats more resonant. Gameplay: Familiar flow, meaningful expansion Gameplay: Familiar flow, meaningful expansion Smarter controls and accessibility Controls have been streamlined. Crawling and holding your breath are now single-button actions. Inventory management is easier, with faster equipment toggling and discard options. These refinements make transitions between exploration and combat more fluid. Crystal collection and directional shortcuts are now simpler. The interaction system feels more responsive and natural. Physics-based movement and planning Sam's movement still relies on physical realism. Terrain, fatigue, slope, and wind all influence travel. Strategic momentum can be used to navigate slopes and obstacles more efficiently. The environment now has a greater gameplay impact. Weather events and natural disasters influence route planning. As terrain worsens, players must adapt their gear and tactics accordingly. Mobility remains central. Upgraded vehicles offer better storage, power, and defensive options. Infrastructure is vital to navigating sandstorms, earthquakes, and floods. Players use survey tools and predictive systems to avoid danger. A deeper RPG system RPG mechanics are more prominent. Skills like running and stealth evolve through usage. The APAS skill tree now includes five branches: mobility, stealth, tools, combat, and communication. Players can reassign points for flexible builds. Smarter loadout strategies Loadouts can be fragile, temperature-sensitive, or time-limited. Auto-loading remains available but requires thoughtful preparation. Successful missions depend on syncing your gear to the terrain. Combat feels more fluid Weapon-switching is faster. Dropping your pack increases agility. Stealth is enhanced with better camouflage and time-based effects. Enemy behavior adapts to light and sound. Each camp features unique layouts and challenges. However, enemy AI remains mostly static, with many strategies staying effective throughout the game. Boss battles show more variety, though patterns emerge quickly. A deeper resistance system would have added more challenge. Still, mid- and late-game encounters offer standout moments—especially when vehicles are unavailable. Versatile vehicles and creative tools Vehicle behavior changes with load and terrain. Bikes enhance speed but reduce the challenge. New tools support experimentation, and familiar items return early to expand play options. Side quests with real substance Side quests with real substance Side quests are thoughtfully designed, not filler. They revisit familiar locations with new challenges and gear requirements. Some rival the main quests in depth and creativity. Each task requires tailored planning—some favor bikes, others trucks. Hidden paths and secrets reward exploration. Tactical customization and strategy Tactical customization and strategy Weapons display detailed stats—range, noise, durability. Gear degrades, encouraging frequent upgrades. Customization lets players balance speed, power, and carrying capacity. Resource scarcity and slow camp replenishment promote exploration and planning. Players can choose between stealth, non-lethal tools, or aggressive tactics. Improved online and co-op systems Improved online and co-op systems Player-built structures now have greater impact. Generators, ziplines, and shelters provide meaningful support. However, new building types are limited. Shared tools still foster connection. On one occasion, I lacked a ladder to cross a river—until I found one left by another player. It felt like a quiet moment of community. Music and performance: Deeply immersive Music and performance: Deeply immersive Strong performances Elle Fanning, Troy Baker, and especially Norman Reedus deliver emotionally layered performances. Animation and facial capture add nuance. Music in narrative and combat Music plays a stronger narrative role. Tracks like 'Tomorrow' evoke deep emotion. During combat, music dynamically shifts with player actions—building intensity or retreating as needed. Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell's work stands out, with scores that convey fear, hope, and peace. Seamless transitions and reworked themes from the first game add fresh emotional weight. Audio design and environmental detail Audio design and environmental detail Sound design is exceptional. Weapons, weather, and movement effects are carefully engineered. DualSense integration elevates immersion with responsive vibrations and audio cues. Sound enhances every emotional moment—from howling wind to flooded footsteps. Players can now create custom playlists to personalize their experience. Full Arabic localization Full Arabic localization PlayStation continues its commitment to Arabic-speaking audiences by offering full localization. In-game text and menus are accurately translated, maintaining clarity without disrupting immersion. This ensures a more inclusive and comprehensible experience for Arabic players, especially in a narrative-heavy game. Visuals: Breathtaking detail, subtle limitations Visuals: Breathtaking detail, subtle limitations The Decima Engine delivers stunning environments, from Mexico's dry plains to Australia's stormy coasts. Facial animations convey emotion down to the smallest details. Yet, despite the graphical power, much of the terrain consists of wide open spaces with minimal micro-detail. It's breathtaking—but less visually dense than other titles. Still, Death Stranding 2 stands among the most visually accomplished games of this generation. Technical performance: Smooth, seamless Technical performance: Smooth, seamless Performance on PlayStation 5 is nearly flawless. Thanks to the SSD, loading times are negligible. Even during heavy combat or severe weather, frame rates remain stable. Dynamic effects—snow, sand, rain, fog—are immersive and cinematic. Storms and BT encounters are punctuated by striking visuals and soundscapes. Conclusion: Familiar shores, new reflections Conclusion: Familiar shores, new reflections Death Stranding 2: On the Beach refines rather than reinvents. It builds on the first game's emotional core while introducing tighter storytelling, improved mechanics, and smarter worldbuilding. While it reuses some elements, the result is a more focused, satisfying journey that rewards both introspection and exploration. Pros: • Emotionally resonant narrative with poignant moments • Beautifully designed environments • Improved navigation and infrastructure systems • Flexible combat with multiple playstyles • Immersive audio and standout performances • Polished, near-flawless technical execution Cons: • Some narrative elements are recycled from the first game • Certain new characters lack depth • Combat feels less dangerous than before • Asynchronous multiplayer is less innovative Raouf Belhamra – Esports and Gaming Writer
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: A bold exploration of grief and redemption awaits
Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: On the Beach successfully captures the magic promised by the original game, and it'll go down in history as one of the definitive games of the PS5 era. Death Stranding was an unusual proposition when it first launched. A post-apocalyptic courier sim was a hard sell in 2019, and its divisive structure — long cinematics punctuated by laborious treks — meant it didn't land for everyone. But there was an undeniable charm to it, a unique magic that helped it stand apart from the sea of third-person shooters and live-service games of its time, cementing its legacy as a flawed classic. Six years later, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach continues Sam Porter Bridges's story, this time across a new continent. Like most sequels, it expands on the original's ideas, but it's also bolder, more refined and proudly wears its sincere heart on its sleeve. It's not just one of legendary developer Hideo Kojima's best games; it's a love letter to life, connection, and meaning from a developer who has grown into one of the great elder statesmen of the games industry. That sentimentality is woven into every pixel, whether through sly glances at the camera or offhand lines loaded with deeper meaning. It's also a faster-paced experience, ditching the slow burn of the original's prologue. If you never played the original, the gist of it is that our weary protagonist has shut himself off from the world after the loss of a loved one, and he eventually embarks on a journey across the Australian continent to heal. Naturally, things get more complicated — this is a Kojima game, after all — and Sam's journey is fraught with peril and ghosts from the past. On that front, Death Stranding 2 is a major leap forward, building on the 2021 Death Stranding Director's Cut and layering in even more gameplay depth. At its core, this is still a hiking simulator mixed with puzzle elements, where plotting your path from Point A to B while carrying precious cargo takes planning, patience, and a good pair of boots. That extends to combat and stealth as well, as these two facets of the game have been significantly improved. While they felt like an afterthought in the original game, the action-packed side of Death Stranding 2 plays like a spiritual successor to Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series, resulting in snappier throwdowns with brigands from the land Down Under, or tense moments when you're holding your breath and sneaking into position so that you can take out BTs with a well-aimed blood-grenade. Yet the game's finest moments are often its quietest: scenes of Sam alone with the world, pushing forward one determined step at a time. These stretches of solitude, set to a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack by Ludvig Forssell and Woodkid, reinforce the game's themes with subtle power. If the first Death Stranding was about connection, this sequel deepens that message while exploring grief, isolation, and healing. These themes are thoroughly explored through an emotional storyline anchored by stellar performances from Kojima's cast of celebrity buddies. Norman Reedus is once again the world-weary Sam, and while he's as laconic as ever, the returning Fragile — played by the amazing Lea Seydoux — is a ray of sunshine and a perfect counterpart to him. The cast has also expanded, with even more characters brought to life through a combination of famous faces and voice actors helping to propel the story along by rattling off some of the most absurd yet delightful lines you've ever heard. Special mention has to go to Troy Baker as the villainous Higgs. As Sam's nemesis, he's a scene-stealing force of nature looking to bring about the downfall of humanity once and for all. Rocking a new Crow-inspired look — and a battle-axe guitar — Baker steals the show with a gleefully over-the-top performance and gripping moments of nuanced pain. Visually, Death Stranding 2 is staggering. There are moments so surreal and breathtaking that you'll instinctively pause just to absorb them. It's a triumph of design and artistic ambition: brilliantly weird, deeply earnest, and utterly unforgettable. This is a game that urges you to go outside and touch some grass, then dares you to dream about what might lie beyond it. DM
Engadget
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Video Games Weekly: Who put all these videos in my games?
Welcome to Video Games Weekly on Engadget. Expect a new story every Monday or Tuesday, broken into two parts. The first is a space for short essays and ramblings about video game trends and related topics from me, Jess Conditt, a reporter who's covered the industry for more than 13 years. The second contains the video game stories from the past week that you need to know about, including some headlines from outside of Engadget. Please enjoy — and I'll see you next week. If I end up reading one more story about how fantastic Death Stranding 2 is so long as you skip the cutscenes , I'm gonna hurl. At what point during 10 hours of cinematic interstitials do we collectively put the controller down and say, actually, this isn't a great game? Not because the game parts aren't any good — they're pretty fabulous, in fact — but because a significant portion of the experience isn't actually interactive at all. When does it become more accurate to describe a Hideo Kojima project as a CGI movie with moments of interactivity, rather than as a video game first? I'm not actually attempting to solve the 'video game of Theseus' riddle right now, but it's a conversation that's been on my mind, given recent headlines. Death Stranding 2 reviews are in, Neil Druckmann is out at HBO and returning to Naughty Dog full-time, and Emmy nominations arrived with 18 nods for video game adaptations. Meanwhile, layoffs are rocking the gaming industry yet again, with thousands fired at Xbox this month, alongside multiple studio closures and game cancellations. One of the most surprising titles to get the ax was Project Blackbird, a promising-sounding MMO from Elder Scrolls studio ZeniMax Online. Blackbird was reportedly canceled in favor of allocating resources to the development of Fallout 5 , a series with mainstream clout following the success of Amazon's Fallout TV show in 2024. The convergence of video games and Hollywood is not a new talking point — even for me — but it's only grown more relevant with time. Sony in particular is leaning hard into a cross-media strategy with notable investments in television, anime and film adaptations of its video game franchises, and it just published Kojima Productions' Death Stranding 2 , which serves as a lightning rod for this entire conversation. Kojima is easy to pick on because he's been so vocal about his desire to make movies, and fittingly, his games have only grown more cinematic over the years. Death Stranding and its sequel are stacked with mainstream Hollywood actors (and Kojima's favorite directors) across hours of drawn-out, non-interactive cutscenes. His next two projects, OD and Physint , are both described as having A-list casts and 'blurring the boundaries between film and games.' I'm a big fan of experimental horror games, and I deeply appreciate Kojima's eye for building tension and sneaky action sequences, but I'm hesitant to get excited about OD and Physint . The deeper Kojima dives into the world of Hollywood, the more he loses me. I don't download, install and boot up a video game to watch a movie instead, and I don't find it impressive when an interactive product is defined by cinematic terms. The constraints of filmmaking are vastly different than those of video game development, and it sucks to watch a talented creator try to force video games to conform to the boundaries of movies or TV, rather than exploring the mechanics that make interactive art so uniquely powerful. I feel like Kojima sees cinema as the goal, not video games specifically, and this perspective breaks my little pixelated heart. It's particularly painful in an era of raging instability for the video game industry. It's difficult to see so much money and creative talent being thrown at projects that end up feeling more like movies than games, at a time when it's increasingly difficult for fresh and original AAA projects to make it to market. Video games have not been maxed out as an art form — there's far more to discover in terms of mechanics, visuals, haptics and immersive interaction systems, and there are more stories that can only be told with these specific tools. Viewing game development through the lens of filmmaking diminishes everything that makes this medium so powerful. The only Hollywood trait the games industry should imitate is its powerful and functional unions. I enjoy things that exist in the gray space between definitions; in fact, I often prefer them. What I don't enjoy is misguided emulation that's sold to an audience as innovation. In the end, I guess what I'm really saying is… I'm still not over PT . One of the most eyebrow-raising details of Microsoft's sweeping layoffs earlier this month was the fact that King, the studio behind Candy Crush , was included in the firings. King is historically a money-printing machine with high per-employee returns, which tends to insulate it from layoffs, but this time around at least 200 people were let go from the studio. As it turns out, a number of fired developers spent the past few years training AI systems to do their jobs, which just adds a layer of shittiness to an already crappy situation. Has the FOMO gotten to you yet? After denying that you wanted a Switch 2 for a few noble and self-righteous weeks, have you cracked and admitted that you actually, really want one? Great — then get yourself to Best Buy on Thursday, July 17, when the company will restock its supply of Switch 2 consoles in all stores. This coincides with the release of Donkey Kong Banaza , too. I've had my eye on Judas , the BioShocky FPS from Ken Levine's Ghost Story Games, since it was revealed in 2022, and I lowkey love how little we still know about it today. That said, I'm happily devouring every bit of information about Judas , and the latest nugget comes from Levine himself in an interview with classic game publisher Nightdive Studios. With Judas , Ghost Story is focused on "telling the story and transporting the player somewhere," rather than building live-service or microtransaction features, Levine said. As he put it, 'You buy the game and you get the whole thing. There's no online component. There's no live service.' There's also no release date for Judas yet. The crazy kids at Summer Games Done Quick have done it once again and raised literal millions of dollars for Doctors Without Borders in a single weekend, simply by playing video games in silly ways without stopping. SGDQ 2025 wrapped up on Sunday with a total donation pool of $2,436,614. The organization's next event is another edition of Flame Fatales, a speedrunning showcase featuring women and femmes that runs from September 7 to 14. We'll see you there. The well of Subnautica 2 drama runs deep. Earlier in July the heads of Subnatica 2 studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment — Charlie Cleveland, Ted Gill and Max McGuire — were ousted by the team's parent company, Krafton, and the game's early access release was delayed to 2026. What's more, Bloomberg reported that the studio had been in line for a $250 million bonus if it had met certain financial goals by the end of the year, but those largely hinged on an early access release. Cleveland said on social media that Subnautica 2 was ready for early access, and Krafton responded to the whole shebang by accusing the fired developers of abandoning their responsibilities as studio heads. Cleveland and others are now apparently filing a lawsuit against Krafton. has a comprehensive timeline of the Subnautica 2 controversy right here.
News18
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
S.S. Rajamouli Joins Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: ‘A Magical Experience'.
S.S. Rajamouli features in Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2 after being scanned during his Japan visit. A rare India-Japan crossover in gaming and film. S.S. Rajamouli, the visionary director behind cinematic blockbusters like Baahubali and RRR, is now making headlines not just for his films but for a surprising cameo in one of Japan's most anticipated video games—Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The game, helmed by legendary game creator Hideo Kojima, is known for pushing the boundaries of storytelling in interactive media. Rajamouli's presence in the game marks a unique cultural crossover between Indian cinema and global gaming. During a promotional visit to Japan for RRR, Rajamouli met Kojima, who scanned the filmmaker to potentially create a digital character for the game. Kojima later confirmed this via a social media post, writing, 'Director S.S. Rajamouli visited KJP!!! We have scanned him. RRR🔥🔥🔥🚀🚀🚀👍🐯" The post was accompanied by behind-the-scenes photos of Rajamouli being scanned inside Kojima Productions. Director S.S. Rajamouli visited KJP!!! We have scanned him. RRR🔥🔥🔥🚀🚀🚀👍🐯 — HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) October 20, 2022 Reflecting on the experience, Rajamouli shared, 'When we were in Japan for RRR promotions, I visited Kojima-san's office. He scanned me there, and honestly, I had no idea how or where he'd use it. I just sensed something magical was in the making. To now see myself featured in Death Stranding 2 is a true honour. Kojima-san is a visionary, and I'm humbled to be even a small part of his extraordinary world." Rajamouli's inclusion in the game highlights the growing bond between Indian and Japanese entertainment cultures. His film RRR achieved monumental success in India and was warmly embraced by Japanese audiences as well. The film was later released in Japan on physical formats, including Ultra HD Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray, further cementing Rajamouli's popularity in the country. As Death Stranding 2 continues to build anticipation among gamers worldwide, Rajamouli's cameo adds an unexpected layer of intrigue and excitement. Whether through cinema or virtual worlds, Rajamouli continues to expand his creative influence globally, proving once again that storytelling transcends mediums. First Published: July 12, 2025, 21:21 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
SS Rajamouli features in Hideo Kojima's upcoming game ‘Death Stranding 2' after surprise visit to Japan
MUMBAI: Filmmaker S S Rajamouli has forayed into the world of gaming with a cameo in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, the highly anticipated title from acclaimed Japanese video game creator Hideo Kojima. The director, best known for mega-blockbusters like the Baahubali franchise and RRR, revealed that his likeness was scanned for the game during a visit to Japan to promote his last directorial RRR in 2022. Kojima later confirmed the cameo through a social media post, sharing behind-the-scenes images of Rajamouli's visit to Kojima Productions. 'Director S S Rajamouli visited KJP!!! We have scanned him. RRR,' Kojima posted on X (formerly Twitter). Rajamouli said he was unaware of how the scan would be used, but was excited to see the final result. 'When we were in Japan for RRR promotions, I visited Kojima-san's office. He scanned me there, and honestly, I had no idea how or where he'd use it,' the filmmaker said in a statement. 'I just sensed something magical was in the making. To now see myself featured in Death Stranding 2 is a true honour. Kojima-san is a visionary, and I'm humbled to be even a small part of his extraordinary world,' he added. Rajamouli's RRR, a period action drama starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR, enjoyed remarkable success in Japan, receiving widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, slated for release worldwide later this year, is the sequel to the 2019 video game Death Stranding, and is expected to feature an ensemble of global talent. Kojima is celebrated for his genre-defining work on titles like Metal Gear, Snatcher, and Zone of the Enders. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will feature returning cast members Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, and Troy Baker, with new additions like Elle Fanning and George Miller joining the universe. The game follows Sam Porter Bridges in a post-apocalyptic Australia, where he and his team must reconnect isolated communities through a communication network in an effort to save humanity.
