Gaming visionary Hideo Kojima recently revealed he's already cooked up a concept for "Death Stranding 3." But here's the kicker: he won't be personally directing the game if it ever comes to fruition.
Between the highly anticipated sequel, "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach," the mysterious Xbox title "OD," an unnamed action-espionage PlayStation game, and a "Death Stranding" movie project currently in development, Kojima's schedule is absolutely packed.
So, while he clearly sees plenty of room for growth within the "Death Stranding" universe, he's made it clear he has no intention of personally helming future game installments.
In an interview with VGC, Kojima explained that "Death Stranding 2" will introduce the "Plate Gate" concept, which he hopes will be crucial for expanding the series. "With this concept, I could make infinite sequels," he explained. "While I don't have those plans, I already have a concept for a third one. Even if I don't personally direct it, someone else should be able to bring it to life."
Kojima also shared how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reshaped the thematic direction of "Death Stranding 2." The first game famously championed the importance of "connection" in a world grappling with isolation and division. However, after the pandemic hit, he observed an ironic shift: an over-reliance on online connections was actually causing real-world physical contact to dwindle.
"During the pandemic, I realized I had studio colleagues I'd never even met in person," he recounted. "Concerts were replaced by online streams. While I understood these changes were necessary, I started to question if this was truly the future we wanted."
This profound reflection prompted him to rewrite the script, forcing a fresh look at the true nature and cost of "connection." Kojima even hinted at a subtle clue hidden in the sequel's logo: the lines symbolizing connection in the first game moved from bottom-up, but in "Death Stranding 2," they flow top-down, signaling a thematic flip. He added that the game's characters and events are packed with hints for players to ponder this evolving idea of connection.
While the seeds for "Death Stranding 3" have been planted, whether Kojima will actually pass the directorial torch remains a tantalizing mystery. What's certain, though, is that "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" is set to deliver an even more profound exploration of the complex, often contradictory relationship between human connection and alienation.
via： VGC