Death Stranding 2: Korean Rating for ‘On the Beach’ Suggests Upcoming Release

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Receives Official Rating

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has recently garnered an official rating from the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) in South Korea. The game has been classified as unsuitable for minors, with specific concerns highlighted in its content summary.

Summary of Content Concerns

The official content description outlines several critical points:

Excessive Violence: The game depicts blood and bodily harm resulting from weapon combat.
Strong Language: It contains frequent instances of vulgarity, including words such as f***, a**hole, and s***.
Direct Drug Use: Scenes featuring smoking and drinking are present throughout the gameplay.

Due to these elements, the title has been rated ‘Not available to minors’ in accordance with Article 21 of the Act on Promotion of the Game Industry and Article 7, Paragraph 4 of the Rating Classification Regulations.

Anticipation Builds for Launch

While the rating may seem like a routine procedural step, it often implies that a game is nearing its release. For instance, Ubisoft Massive’s Star Wars Outlaws received a rating in March and launched shortly after in August. If history is any guide, fans can expect Death Stranding 2: On the Beach to debut within the first half of the upcoming year. Speculation suggests that an official release date announcement could come at the anticipated State of Play event, rumored to occur next week.

Development Insights

Furthermore, Hideo Kojima, the game’s creator, indicated back in May 2024 that development had reached the ‘adjustment phase, ’ with voice acting and motion capture already completed. During the Tokyo Game Show 2024, fans received an exciting preview of new characters, featuring talents such as:

Rainy: Played by Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool & Wolverine, The Invasion)
Tomorrow: Played by Elle Fanning (Super 8, Maleficent, The Great)
Dollman: Played by Jonathan Roumie (Jesus in The Chosen)
Heartman: Played by Darren Jacobs (Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver)

Returning cast members include Norman Reedus as Sam Porter Bridges, Léa Seydoux as Fragile, and Troy Baker as Higgs. Notably, players will also encounter likenesses inspired by renowned figures like George Miller and Fatih Akin.

Technological Framework and Platforms

Continuing the legacy of its predecessor, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has been developed using Guerrilla’s Decima Engine. Initially, the title will launch on PlayStation 5, with a high potential for availability on PC and possibly Xbox in the future, particularly following Kojima Productions’ recent acquisition of the intellectual property from Sony.

As anticipation continues to grow, fans await further updates and insights into this eagerly awaited sequel.

Source & Images