Remember when you trudged across a broken America in the original Death Stranding, hauling packages, dodging BTs, questioning the meaning of “connection”? Well, the sequel drops you back into the boots of Sam Porter Bridges (voiced by Norman Reedus), and yes: the story is still bonkers – but in the best way. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is the next chapter from Kojima Productions and Hideo Kojima, and as of late 2025, it’s already making serious waves.

First things first: the release date. The game launched on June 26, 2025, for PlayStation 5. It remains a PS5 exclusive at launch, with no full confirmation yet for PC or other consoles.

So if you’ve got a PS5 and some hours to spare, you’re in prime territory.

What’s New in the World of Delivery

If the first game was about reconnecting a shattered U.S. and being a weird “porter” hero, this sequel throws new maps and a bigger world into the mix. Reviewers highlight that traversal (walking, climbing, balancing cargo) is still at the heart of the experience – but improves substantially.

But here’s the twist: it isn’t just walking anymore. The action is sharper. Gear is more varied. Environments stretch from mountain ranges to sun-baked deserts to a floating ship base called the DHV Magellan (yes, you’ll feel a bit like a sci-fi courier). TechRadar, for instance, says the game “vastly improves the action, while not letting it overpower the game” and calls the visuals “some of the most gorgeous” they’ve seen.

Story-wise: Sam’s life post-the original is quieter – hiding out in Mexico with baby Lou. But duty calls, of course. The world still reels from the supernatural events around the “beaches” (the liminal zones between life and death in the lore). The subtitle On the Beach hints that the limbo spaces from the first game are even more central this time.

Expect a narrative that leans more character-driven. Pandemic era influences, existential themes, plus all the strange Kojima flourishes you know and love. One reviewer noted:

“The sequel’s story is a worthy follow-up … the pacing has been improved to match the player’s expectations.”

But yes – there’s a lot of walking. If that’s your jam, good. If not… proceed with awareness.

Main Characteristics of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Feature	Details
Developer	Kojima Productions
Publisher	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date	June 26, 2025 (PlayStation 5)
Platforms	PlayStation 5 (PC version not yet officially confirmed)
Genre	Action / Adventure / Strand-type narrative game
Main Protagonist	Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus)
Setting	Post-apocalyptic world with “Beach” liminal zones
Core Gameplay	Exploration, traversal, cargo management, social Strand systems, BT encounters
New Features	Expanded traversal tools, more complex combat, new biomes, improved structures, and vehicles
Average Review Scores	~88–90% on major aggregators (as of Nov 2025)
Playtime Estimate	40–80 hours, depending on exploration
Price at Launch	Standard PS5 pricing (varies by region)

Why Gamers Are Pretty Hyped

Let’s talk scores. On Metacritic, the game boasts a critic average of around 89+ for PS5. On OpenCritic, it’s even listed as “top 1% of games”. That’s a signal: this isn’t just niche weirdness – it’s been well-received. 

What stands out:

• The upgrade in gameplay mechanics: more tools, more options, better movement. GameRant said: “huge world … graphics incredible … its tools give players a great deal of freedom.”
• The visuals. Building on the Decima engine (used for the Horizon series), the environments here are jaw-dropping. TechRadar mentions multiple biomes from mountain to desert, praising the fidelity.
• For fans of the first game: it keeps the spirit – the “Strand” social systems, the delivery loop, the weirdness – while smoothing out the rough edges. Gaming.net says it “refines” the original.

If you’ve been waiting for a next-gen game that values atmosphere, oddness, and slow-burn payoff, this delivers.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

No game is perfect (yes, even this one). Some caveats worth knowing:
Even though combat is improved, the core loop still dips into the slow and contemplative more than full-blown action. TechRadar’s “Cons” list points out audio glitches and that the story may be slower than some expect.

If you weren’t on board with the walking-and-thinking vibe of the first one, this sequel won’t dramatically flip that. VideoGamer states: “functionally more Death Stranding, albeit with a fresh story…”

And PC/console availability is still uncertain beyond PS5 – for now, it’s a timed exclusive.

So if you’re expecting a head-to-head shooter with minimal downtime, maybe temper expectations. But if you’re okay with a game that breathes differently, it’s worth it.

Why It’s Worth Your Time

Let’s say you’ve got a PS5, played the first game (or at least know what you’re getting into), and you like a game that takes its time but delivers memorable moments. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach offers:

• A canvas of truly next-gen visuals, where hiking across strange terrain or cruising in a “companion vehicle” just to see the world feels like its own mini-reward.
• A refined game loop: yes you still deliver packages, build structures, and deal with weird enemies – but the tools are sharper, the pacing a bit better, which means fewer “why am I walking uphill carrying bottles again?” moments.
• Story and characters that pull you in. Even if you’re not the biggest Kojima fan, the acting and production values here are strong; one reviewer called Sam’s performance the best they’ve seen from Reedus.
• The social “Strand” system is still meaningful: other players’ structures helping you, you helping others, nice little touches of community, which softens the solo-voyager vibe.

If I were telling a friend: “Look, if you’re after a loud AAA shooter and that’s all you play, skip it. But if you’re up for something that mixes weirdness, emotion, striking visuals, and a hitchhiker’s-guide style journey across broken landscapes – get it.”

Final Word

By the time you’ve finished Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, you’ll probably be sunburned from those virtual deserts, emotionally wrung from the “what-are-we-doing-here” moments, and maybe checked your cargo balance more than once. That’s fine – it’s supposed to do that. It doesn’t reinvent everything, but it takes what was cool about the original and pushes it further while trimming some of the rough edges.

So yes: this is one of the standout PS5 games of 2025. If you’ve got a few dozen hours to spare and you don’t mind the walking-and-wondering, Sam’s still delivering, and his “beach” is waiting.