Kojima Says Death Stranding 2 Isn’t For Everyone — And That’s Exactly The Point

Hideo Kojima has made it clear: Death Stranding 2 isn’t trying to win your love. In a new interview with Edge Magazine, the legendary developer opened up about what he actually wants from the game’s release — and spoiler alert, it’s not universal praise. While most studios would be thrilled by overwhelmingly positive test reviews, Kojima sounds… a bit disappointed.

Kojima told Edge:

“I’m not interested in making something that appeals to everyone.”

That’s right. After running test reviews for Death Stranding 2, which got significantly better scores than the first game, Kojima admitted he found the lack of controversy a little too clean. Sony might be pleased, but Kojima? Not so much.

"Sony is pleased, of course, but I do wish I was a bit more controversial. Blockbuster films need an 80 percent approval rating – I don’t want to make games like that."

That’s a wild take in a gaming industry obsessed with scores, player retention, and reach. But it’s on-brand for Kojima, a guy who made a whole game about delivering packages through ghost-filled America and somehow made that emotionally devastating. If you were expecting Death Stranding 2 to soften its weird edges, this interview should kill that hope instantly.

First Impressions and Feelings about Death Stranding 2 from those who’ve played early builds seem oddly positive — maybe too positive for Kojima’s taste. He even mentioned that during testing for the original Death Stranding, a healthy chunk of people didn’t like it, and he liked that. A divide, a line in the sand. With the sequel, everyone’s onboard. That’s not what Kojima wants. He wants reactions. Arguments. That weird, uncomfortable space where you don’t know how to feel.

And if you’re someone who just wants to walk the landscape and avoid conflict altogether, the game’s got you too. Death Stranding 2 will let you skip boss fights, a design choice Kojima framed as part of the game’s philosophy of letting players experience it their own way. It’s not about punishing you for not being a “gamer,” it’s about shaping the journey to your taste — even if that means skipping the drama.

You also probably noticed a tonal shift in everything we’ve seen so far. The new footage from Death Stranding 2: On the Beach drops more questions than answers. A church surrounded by skeletons. Fake Solid Snake types. Monorails. Sandstorms. But most interesting is what’s not there — Kojima seems to be holding those emotional cards close.

The setting change is also worth calling out. We’re moving from post-apocalyptic America to a crumbling Australia, and you’ll get to build monorails now. Why? Because Kojima. If Death Stranding was about walking, and DS2 is about rebuilding, then these mechanical additions reflect a shift in philosophy — maybe this one is less about surviving isolation and more about forging real connections across distances.

And while the excitement is massive, remember: Death Stranding 2 release date in May 2026 isn’t a guarantee. That’s the latest internal target, sure, but this is a Kojima production. Delays aren’t just possible — they’re expected. The upside is that the more time he has, the more polished (and weird) the final product will be. So maybe circle May, but don’t bet your vacation days on it just yet.

What’s crazy is Kojima’s already thinking beyond this game. Death Stranding 2 isn’t even out, and he’s talking about what’s next. In his words: “I don’t want to simply recreate something that’s already in the world. I want to make something new.” That’s a mission statement you can’t fake. The guy could coast on his name alone, but instead, he’s doubling down on weirdness, discomfort, and ideas that won’t land for everyone.

So if you’re hoping for a neat little package that satisfies all your gaming expectations, you might want to look elsewhere. Kojima’s cooking something different, and he wants you to feel a little off balance the whole time. That’s the Death Stranding vibe, after all. You carry the weight, but you choose what it means.

And if that freaks you out? Good. That’s probably exactly what he wants.