Kojima Confirms Death Stranding 3 Exists, But Won't Develop It

Hideo Kojima has already envisioned a concept for Death Stranding 3, but he won’t be the one to bring it to life. Discover how Death Stranding 2 lays the foundation for multiple sequels and what’s next for the legendary game creator.

Death Stranding 3 May Not Be Led by Kojima

Death Stranding 2 Opens the Door to "Endless Sequels"

Hideo Kojima, director of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), has confirmed that he already has a clear idea for Death Stranding 3—but he won’t be developing it himself. In a May 8 interview with VGC, Kojima revealed that a key narrative element introduced in DS2—Plate Gates—could serve as a springboard for countless future installments.

Plate Gates, a new mechanic in DS2, allow characters to traverse different geographical locations and timelines, effectively opening the series to global settings and new storylines. “If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels,” Kojima explained.

However, he made it clear that he doesn’t plan to lead any of them. “I, of course, don’t have any plans to do that, but I already have a concept for another sequel. I am not going to make it myself, but if I passed it on to someone else, they could probably make it.” While fans shouldn’t expect a Kojima-directed Death Stranding 3 anytime soon, the door remains open for other developers to continue the saga—with the creator’s full conceptual blessing.

The Pandemic Reshaped Death Stranding 2's Vision

Kojima also shared how the global COVID-19 pandemic deeply influenced the direction of Death Stranding 2. The original Death Stranding launched in November 2019, just months before the world entered lockdown—making its core theme of human connection suddenly feel prophetic.

“The world was heading towards isolation and division, such as the UK leaving the EU. So I was saying, ‘Let’s connect. We’re headed for disaster if we don’t connect.’ That was the theme, story, and gameplay for Death Stranding,” Kojima said.

When the pandemic struck, the real world began mirroring the game’s vision. The Chiral Network, the in-game communication system, became a metaphor for the real-life internet—essential for maintaining global connectivity during isolation. “We survived the pandemic because of the Internet and people were connected online,” Kojima noted.

Yet, he observed a troubling shift: the same digital networks that saved us are now contributing to societal fragmentation. With rising metaverse trends and screen-dominated interactions, genuine human connection is fading. “Communication between human beings is not meant to be this way. You meet people by chance or see sights you didn’t expect to see. With the way we were headed, you would lose all of that,” he warned.

Though the initial vision for DS2 was already in motion, the pandemic prompted Kojima to reevaluate its message. “Maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much,” he reflected. This internal conflict is now woven into the narrative of DS2 through one of its central characters.

He pointed to the evolution of the game’s logo as a symbolic clue: the first game’s strands represented “Let’s Connect,” while DS2’s altered design suggests “We should not have connected.” Kojima teased, “When you really start thinking about what it means to connect, you start to wonder… That’s all I’ll say for now.”

What’s Next for Hideo Kojima?

Even if Kojima steps away from the Death Stranding franchise, his creative journey is far from over. In December 2023, he joined forces with filmmaker Jordan Peele and Microsoft Game Studios to unveil OD (formerly known as Overdose) during The Game Awards.

This bold new project has been in the works for five to six years. “The project required infrastructure that was never needed before,” Kojima revealed. “I discussed it with many big companies and gave presentations, but they really seemed to think that I was mad.” With Microsoft’s support, the vision is finally becoming a reality.

Additionally, Kojima is teaming up with PlayStation for a “next-generation action espionage game” under a brand-new original IP. Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play in January 2024, this title marks a full-circle moment in his career.

As the creator of the Metal Gear series, Kojima sees this upcoming game as a culmination of his 40 years in the industry. “I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my game production career. I am confident that this title will be the culmination of my work,” he stated. Development will begin in full once Death Stranding 2 is complete.

While these projects are still on the horizon, fans won’t have to wait long for the next Kojima experience. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Stay updated on all the latest developments by checking out our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach coverage.