Death Stranding 2: Why Did Sam Look Like He Aged 20 Years Overnight? Fans Might Have Cracked It

Remember when Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was first revealed, and everyone freaked out because Sam looked way older? Gray hair, exhausted face – like he’d just finished delivering packages across the entire world. Naturally, people assumed the game had a massive time skip.

But fast-forward to recent trailers, and… Sam is back to looking like himself. No gray hair, no grandpa vibes. And since we now know the game takes place just 11 months after the first Death Stranding, that whole Sam Bridges, senior citizen thing? Yeah, it’s not a time skip.

So what’s going on? Over on the Death Stranding subreddit, fans have been obsessing over this mystery, and one theory is really gaining traction: repatriation.

The “Sam Forgot to Repatriate” Theory

One of the top-voted theories comes from Redditor Captain_Grn_Thmbs, who suggests that Sam’s old-man look might be because he hasn’t repatriated in a long time. If you need a refresher, repatriation is basically Death Stranding’s version of respawning. Sam and a few others in the world can cheat death and return to life – but what if not doing so for a long period ages you?

According to this theory, Sam starts the game looking older because he hasn't repatriated for a while. Then, at some point early in On the Beach, he finally does – resetting his body to its “normal” state. Boom, no more gray hair.

Other Theories Because, Well… It’s Kojima

Of course, this is Death Stranding, so there are plenty of wild theories floating around. Some fans think:

• Timefall damage messed him up before he got out of the rain.
• Just pure stress. Delivering packages in a post-apocalyptic world ain’t easy.
• Something weird and Kojima-esque. Like, what if it’s a fake-out? Or a metaphor? Or some deep commentary on aging in society? (Wouldn’t put it past him.)

And then there’s my favorite: Sam went gray after trying to understand the plot of Death Stranding. Relatable.

So What’s the Truth?

We won’t know for sure until Death Stranding 2: On the Beach releases in 2025, but one thing is clear – Kojima is playing mind games again, and we’re all just here for the ride.