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, complete with a confirmed 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, is a captivating blend of cinematic sequences and gameplay footage. A particularly striking element is a character many believe strongly resembles Snake from Kojima's iconic Metal Gear series.

This character, Neil, portrayed by Italian actor Luca Marinelli, is seen sporting a bandana—a familiar sight for Metal Gear fans—and leading 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, reminiscent of Metal Gear Rex. (A 15" Magellan Man statue is included in the Collector's Edition.) This behemoth seems to function as a Pacific Rim-style mech, battling enormous, 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 carries the thought-provoking tagline, "Should We Have Connected?" The official synopsis reads:

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