GamesActionDeath Stranding 2Everything cool I noticed in the new Death Stranding 2 trailer after sinking 150 hours into the first Death StrandingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesActionDeath Stranding 2Everything cool I noticed in the new Death Stranding 2 trailer after sinking 150 hours into the first Death StrandingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Proving that Hideo Kojima doesn’t know the meaning of the word “trailer,” we saw a whopping nine new minutes of Death Stranding 2 during PlayStation’s State of Play stream. The majority of the trailer is setup for Sam’s next journey and weird details we’ll be pouring over for months—Mexico, a mobile base of operations, a marionette companion, Troy Baker Joker—but my eyes were glued to all the little looks at gameplay.
If you’ve played as much Death Stranding 1 as me, a lot will instantly stand out. Did you notice the time-of-day change? All those new guns? The dynamic weather? All have major implications for DS2’s evolution of Kojima’s strange, contemplative hiking game, and they have me very excited.
First, what’s familiar
Weapons and combat seem like a much bigger deal
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
Several moments in the new trailer suggest Death Stranding 2 will have more combat than the original. For one, there sure are a lot of guns this time around. When Fragile shows Sam his personal armory it’s already decked-out with assault rifles, a silenced pistol, revolver, and the maser gun from the DS1 Director’s Cut, as well what looks like a sniper rifle, rocket launcher, and heavy machinegun.
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
Which brings me to…
SAM CAN TAKE OFF HIS BACKPACK
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
I audibly gasped when Sam took off his backpack. One of the biggest problems with DS1’s combat and stealth is how tedious it was if you were hauling a bunch of stuff. If you just wanted to make a quick trip into dangerous territory without putting your cargo in danger, you had to go through layers of menus and make a mess of boxes on the ground. This DS2 tweak makes so much sense—Sam takes off his entire pack before picking a fight with robots, both keeping his cargo safe and shedding mass that’d weigh him down. It’s another indication that Death Stranding 2 is more of an action game.
The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals
Death Stranding 2 has a night cycle
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
In DS1, it was day time all the time. That’s changing in Death Stranding 2, and I can’t wait to see what it means for deliveries. We see Sam running down a well-lit highway at night, but the open landscape to his left and right lookverydark. Does Sam need vision goggles just to get around without tripping every two seconds? Another possible battery-sucking resource for players to manage. What about BT encounters at night?
Dynamic weather hazards look amazing
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
Yes, please. Sign me up. DS1’s map was a blast to hike across, but the hazards were mostly stationary and the same across every region (except snow). If you knew the map and set the right path, nothing could surprise you. I hope these are just two examples of how DS2’s Mexico can shift under Sam’s feet and force players to react to unanticipated obstacles.
What does the puppet do?
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
Sam’s nonchalance in bringing the weird half-framerate puppet along on his journey would suggest that he serves no purpose in gameplay, but we’re not believing that for a second, right? This is a Kojima game: everything does something, even if that thing is obscure and highly situational.
Vehicles got a serious redesign
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
There are exactly two vehicles in the new Death Stranding 2 trailer, and they’re both new takes on old designs. The cargo truck now has an exterior, carriage-style front seat. Why? Looks cool, I guess. The electric trike’s seat has also changed, but this one makes a lot of sense. Sam now sits in the middle with his back perpendicular to the bike, allowing his cargo to balance upright instead of impossibly hanging over his back like in DS1. The downside? It doesn’t look as much like a motorcycle anymore, whichmight offend Norman Reedus.
I’m not ruling out that these are just two variants of older designs that are still in the game. Maybe this version of the trike has better handling at the cost of speed?
But I really hope we get to ride this monocycle
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
Yeah yeah, bikes and trucks. Where is that sweet monocycle Fragile drove in the first Death Stranding 2 trailer? I wanna get my hands on one of those, and then maybe never drive anything else again in DS2.
Bonus round: Will Sam get a sword?
(Image credit: Kojima Productions)
I mean, it’s possible right? If Death Stranding 2 will have more combat, why not introduce new melee weapons. I bet Higg’s absurd guitar axe will be just for him, though.
More about actionAll Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’LatestI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at baySee more latest►
More about actionAll Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’LatestI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at baySee more latest►
More about actionAll Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’
More about action
All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’
All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codes
All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codes
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’
LatestI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at baySee more latest►
Latest
I tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay
I tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay
I tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay
See more latest►
Most Popular
These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre
Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 6, 2025)
I’ve seen enough: No more forcing singleplayer studios to make mediocre live service games
6 games that could be bigger hits than you’re expecting in 2025
What are your 2025 gaming resolutions?
The FBI put a $5 million bounty on the ‘Cryptoqueen’ last year but still hasn’t found her, so take your pick: Russia, South Africa, or murdered on a yacht in 2018
The Witcher season 4: Everything we know about Hemsworth’s debut on The Continent
8 bold gaming predictions for 2025
The PC game releases we’re most excited about in January
Twitter is dead, X is a cesspit, let’s make 2025 the year of the message board
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1
Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2
Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3
Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4
Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5
Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits
1
Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback
2
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4
Ikea Utespelare desk review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
