Death Stranding: Everything We Know

Ever since the first reveal trailer dropped for it at E3 2016, ‘Death Stranding’ has been one of the most hotly anticipated games in the modern era. How could it not be? Helmed by legendary Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima (best known for the Metal Gear Solid video games), the game features a star-studded cast led by Hollywood star Norman Reedus, who is best known for playing Daryl Dixon in AMC’s popular zombie TV show, ‘The Walking Dead’. Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen of ‘Casino Royale’ and the ‘Hannibal’ TV series joins Reedus in a supporting role capacity, as well as a number of other high-profile actors and industry veterans.

‘Death Stranding’ was first announced at E3 2016, one year after Kojima’s video game development studio Kojima Productions separated from its parent company Konami after a bitter and protracted legal dispute. After well over three years of relentless discussion, debate, fan theories and intensifying hype, Hideo Kojima’s magnum opus is finally approaching its release date. Read on to find out everything we know about ‘Death Stranding’.

Death Stranding Plot: What is it About?

The events of ‘Death Stranding’ take place in a disconcertingly imaginative world straight out of the darkest recesses of Hideo Kojima’s mind. In the words of the great man himself: “People have created “Walls” and become accustomed to living in isolation. Death Stranding is a completely new type of action game, where the goal of the player is to reconnect isolated cities and a fragmented society. It is created so that all elements, including the story and gameplay, are bound together by the theme of the “Strand” or connection. As Sam Porter Bridges, you will attempt to bridge the divides in society, and in doing so create new bonds or “Strands” with other players around the globe. Through your experience playing the game, I hope you’ll come to understand the true importance of forging connections with others.”

In ‘Death Stranding’ you play as Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), a deliveryman for a company called Bridges. Bridges was formed with the purpose of reunifying a fractured and fragmented United States of America after explosions across the Earth ravaged the face of the planet and nearly brought humankind to extinction. Horribly tentacled chiral monsters known simply as the “Beached Things” now inhabit the wasteland, killing anyone and everyone they come across. There also exist bewildering baby like creatures called “Bridge Babies” that facilitate a connection between the real world and the world of the dead. According to game lore, Bridge Babies are taken from the womb of “Stillmothers”, who are women that have suffered complete brain death.

Yet another head spinning new gameplay feature introduced to the game is the concept of “Timefall”, which causes the rain to accelerate the aging process of any biological lifeform it comes in contact with. True to classic Kojima fashion, ‘Death Stranding’ promises to be a confusing, exhilarating and deeply peculiar experience all the same time.

Death Stranding Gameplay

Technically speaking, ‘Death Stranding’ is an open world action game presented from a third person camera perspective. However, like many of Kojima’s other creations, ‘Death Stranding’ defies easy classification and strives to break across and beyond traditional genre barriers. For large parts of the game, it can be also be described as a walking simulator as you navigate the grotesque environment, overcome obstacles and dispatch enemies (or sneak past them, if that’s more your style). The game has a fully realized combat system which includes firearms, explosives and melee, but most combat encounters are entirely optional. Stealth is a viable option, especially when you chance upon a menacing Beached Thing on your travels.

Kojima has also put his own spin on what dying in a video game looks like in ‘Death Stranding’. Instead of the conventional reset from the last save point like is common in most modern video games, dying in the world of ‘Death Stranding’ transports the player into a different world that represents purgatory. Players will have the opportunity of exploring this even stranger world before returning back to their bodies in order to resume the main storyline.

Besides the main single player campaign, ‘Death Stranding’ will reportedly also feature an integrated pseudo-multiplayer mode of sorts, somewhat reminiscent of the multiplayer implementation in games like ‘Journey’ and ‘Devil May Cry 5’. You will be able to share resources and safe houses with other players, but you will be unable to communicate with them.

Death Stranding Developers: Who Are The People Behind It?

‘Death Stranding’ is the passion project of Japanese video game designer, writer, director and producer, Hideo Kojima. It is being developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on PlayStation 4 and 505 Games on PC. Kojima Productions also collaborated with Guerilla Games for support as ‘Death Stranding’ employs their proprietary game engine called Decima. The game also features contributions from Japanese artist Yoji Shinkawa and composer Ludvig Forssel of ‘Metal Gear Solid V’ fame.

‘Death Stranding’ also boasts of an all-star cast of actors that could put most Hollywood movies to shame. Besides Norman Reedus in the leading role, the game also stars Mads Mikkelsen, Guillermo del Toro, Léa Seydoux, Tommie Earl Jenkins, Margaret Qualley, Troy Baker and Lindsay Wagner.

Death Stranding Release Date: When And Where Can I Play It?

‘Death Stranding’ is set to release on November 8 2019 as a timed exclusive for PlayStation 4. However, Kojima Productions have announced that a PC version of ‘Death Stranding’ is also in the works, and will likely arrive early in the summer of 2020.

Death Stranding Trailer

Kojima Productions has released several trailers for ‘Death Stranding’ during the three-year build up to the game’s release. All of these trailers are visually gorgeous, thematically complex and viscerally disturbing. You can watch the launch trailer for ‘Death Stranding’ here:

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