We are moving slowly but surely towards the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and with media previews being positive, there is much cause to be excited. It’s not just the press that’s enjoying the game, with internal reviews behind the scenes along the same sentiments. But for creator Hideo Kojima, that’s not exactly the best news.
In an interview with Edge Magazine (via VGC), Kojima revealed that the playtests of the first game, there was a good balance between both positive and negative experiences. This meant that it aligned with the kind of games he and Kojima Productions wanted to make, something that is not mass market, but more for a niche audience.
“I’d find that four out of ten people would love the game, but six would say it was a terrible game. For me, I think that’s a good balance. But with the playtests for Death Standing 2: On the Beach, everyone seems to be positive,” shared Kojima.
“Of course, I can’t afford to make a failure, either. I must take care of my studio, my staff, and our production budget. But in essence, I don’t want to simply recreate something that’s already in the world. I want to make something new.”
Feedback about elements like controls and camera is more objective, and the team is more than willing to work on those. But to not want to have the assurance that everyone likes the game is definitely in line with Kojima’s views on gaming and entertainment as a whole.
For context, the original Death Stranding launched in 2019 with a Metacritic score of 82, with a varied response from critics and players alike. It could be that Death Stranding 2 surpasses that with the testing thus far. For Kojima, he would likely have a different way of measuring success, and that’s probably why the game will succeed in its unique way.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is now scheduled to be released on June 26, 2025, exclusively for the PlayStation 5. You can also grab a themed DualSense to add to the experience.
