Death Stranding 2 Gameplay Length Potentially Doubles Original with Increased Combat as Fans Request MGS Elements

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – A Grand Expansion of an Innovative Saga

The much-anticipated sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, promises to be a significantly larger experience than its predecessor. Recent insights from Eurogamer, who previewed approximately 30 hours of gameplay at Kojima Productions’ headquarters, suggest this segment represents around 40% of the overarching narrative. Consequently, players can expect a gameplay duration nearing 75 hours, nearly doubling the original’s average playtime of 40 hours.

Building on a Successful Foundation

This expansion in scale is rational given that the first installment marked the inaugural venture of a new studio. Although it had the backing of Sony, it essentially launched a brand-new intellectual property helmed by renowned game designer Hideo Kojima. Following the overwhelming success, where Kojima Productions announced last month that the original game has now reached over 20 million players, the sequel looks poised to follow the trend of ‘bigger and better’ while maintaining Kojima’s characteristic flair.

Enhanced Combat Mechanics Reflecting Fan Demand

Among the noteworthy enhancements in this sequel are the expanded combat options. As Kojima himself stated, the inclusion of these features is partially a response to persistent fan requests for another Metal Gear title:

There are so many people all over the world asking me to make another Metal Gear, so I added more options for combat. When I was working out those mechanics, I was a little worried because many of the staff that worked with me on Metal Gear still work here, and we kept saying to each other, ‘Does this feel too much like Metal Gear?’ It wasn’t on purpose.

A Haunting Tribute Through Music

Additionally, the sequel will pay homage to the late musician Ryan Karazija, founder and lead vocalist of Low Roar. His unreleased songs will feature in the game, as requested by his family, who expressed the artist’s desire for his music to be part of the new installment. His contributions were already a significant part of the original Death Stranding.

Release Details and Future Availability

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is slated for release on June 26, alongside a limited-edition DualSense controller. While the game will initially be exclusive to Sony’s PlayStation 5, it is anticipated that after Kojima Productions reacquired the publishing rights from Sony, a PC and Xbox release will follow, echoing the path taken by the original title.

For those looking forward to this intriguing continuation of Kojima’s unique narrative and gameplay style, anticipation is certainly building. Stay tuned for more updates as the release date approaches.

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