Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is one of the most mysterious games set for a 2025 release. The sequel to Kojima Productions’ 2019 post-apocalyptic tale is aiming even higher with its special brand of strangeness. Death Stranding 2 has offered a handful of sneak peeks at the game, but in traditional Kojima fashion, these glimpses into the story often raise more questions and provide few answers.
From high-profile cameos to a talking puppet, Death Stranding 2 seems to have amplified the bizarre world that Hideo Kojima and his team have created. One surprising new feature that adds an extra dash of realism has been the subject of a lot of discussion surrounding the game. Last year, Death Stranding 2‘s photo mode was revealed, and it is an impressively realistic take on the feature. While this could be a simple addition, knowing Kojima, there may be more to this photo mode than meets the eye.
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What Death Stranding 2’s Subtitle Could Mean for Its Story and Gameplay
Death Stranding 2’s “On the Beach” subtitle carries some weighty implications for its story and gameplay, beyond what has already been made plain.
Death Stranding 2’s Teased Photo Mode Could Be Integral to Gameplay
Capturing Sam’s New Journey Picture by Picture
In the first Death Stranding, protagonist Sam Porter Bridges was an isolated individual, avoiding connection. However, by meeting characters like Fragile and Die Hardman, he had formed several friendships by the end of the narrative. At the heart of Death Stranding is a story about connecting with people, and Death Stranding 2 appears to be focused on Sam’s less-isolated life.
It’s clear that the game’s planned photo mode will be used in a way that make these connections and friendships feel even more lifelike, but there could be even more in store with taking in-game photographs. The photo mode could potentially be an important mechanic used throughout the story. Kojima has a reputation for bringing forth some wonderfully wacky concepts, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see a photo mode utilized in a way that flips the feature on its head.
Potential Ways Death Stranding 2 Could Approach its Photo Mode
- Boss fights
- Dialogue prompts
- In-game social sharing
Using a photo mode during a boss fight might feel bizarre, but this is a Kojima Productions game being talked about, so nearly anything is possible. Despite the Death Stranding franchise taking place in a destroyed and disjointed version of the United States, there is also an odd underlying sense of humor that brings levity to the story. With Higgs returning, taking a mocking selfie with him in the middle of a fight would definitely be on brand with the series’ taste for randomness.
The sequel to Kojima Productions’ 2019 post-apocalyptic tale is aiming even higher with its special brand of strangeness.
Also, when talking to other characters in the game, there could be prompts for players to snap pictures. Now that Sam has grown a network of friends, taking photos could be a way to show how much he’s grown as a character in this regard. One of the most likely scenarios, though, is that players might be able to share the photos they have taken with others. The first Death Stranding showcased its theme of connection by allowing players to build structures that helped the online community traverse the game’s terrain. A photo mode could be a way to expand upon this by allowing players to leave photos throughout the world for others to stumble upon.
Hideo Kojima has an affinity for taking pictures. His Instagram is filled with snaps of his favorite pieces of pop culture and artists he collaborates with.
Death Stranding News is on the Horizon
Rumors have been circulating that fresh Death Stranding 2 news could arrive at SXSW. Although the details of such a reveal remain unclear, Kojima will hopefully announce a release date and detail some new features. As of now, the wait continues, but Death Stranding 2‘s photo mode continues to be a point of intrigue.
