Saving Kangaroos from Wildfires and Other Details About Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

With less than two months left before the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions has announced that the game has gone gold. Just before this announcement, a flood of new information about the project surfaced online, including fresh gameplay snippets. We’ve analyzed all the details and are ready to share what the sequel to one of the most unusual AAA games of recent years has to offer.

The events of DS2 take place 11 years after the first game. At the start, Sam Porter Bridges, along with his now older adoptive daughter Lou, finds himself in Mexico. Having restored civilization across the former United States, Sam is now continuing his mission south of the border. However, after a surprise visit from Fragile, who asks for his help, Sam sets out for Australia to assist in reconnecting the fragmented cities and settlements.

Australia in Death Stranding 2 doesn’t exactly mirror its real-world counterpart, but that’s hardly surprising — America in the first game felt more like Iceland than the USA. Nevertheless, many iconic elements you’d expect to find in Australia are present here: from vast red sand dunes to lush tropical forests populated by kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies.

Hideo Kojima specifically sought a region that, like the USA, stretches from east to west and is bordered by oceans on multiple sides. Australia fit these criteria perfectly, while Eurasia and Africa were considered too vast and unmanageable in scale.

It’s recommended but not mandatory. The sequel’s main menu includes a "Death Stranding Recap" section — a 17-page slide presentation narrated by the character Deadman. This recap covers the key events of the first game and introduces the major characters. Additionally, Sam has access to an interactive encyclopedia called Corpus, which provides detailed descriptions of all the terms and events in the Death Stranding universe.

Still, it’s worth experiencing the original to better understand the characters' complex personalities and relationships.

There’s no official confirmation yet, but according to recent previews, completing the main storyline of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will take around 75 hours — almost twice as long as the first game. And that’s not even counting the side content.

It’s worth noting that the side quests in DS2 are significantly more meaningful than those in the original game, often featuring narrative depth and important story scenes.

…delivering packages is now a lot more fun. The core gameplay remains the same: the sequel builds on the mechanics of the first game while improving them with new features and gadgets. In that sense, Death Stranding 2 is a sequel in the spirit of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, offering a familiar but refined experience.

One of the biggest improvements is the introduction of a monorail system, making it much easier to transport packages across the vast wastelands. Players can build monorails connecting different points on the map, simplifying the movement of heavy cargo like mined resources across difficult terrain. This system also adds a layer of logistics and infrastructure management to the game.

Players can expect a wider variety of vehicles, which become available early on. Sam gains access to a new three-wheeled motorcycle right from the start, making it easier to traverse rough landscapes.

In addition to delivering goods, players will also transport animals like kangaroos and koalas. During these wildlife transportation missions, ensuring the comfort and safety of the animals adds extra challenges — especially when evacuating them from wildfire zones.

To keep players on their toes, the developers have introduced a dynamic natural disaster system. Australian regions may experience wildfires, and Sam can use new equipment to extinguish flames and clear pathways.

Heavy rains can cause floods, making rivers impassable. Players will need to find new routes or link multiple collapsible ladders to create an extra-long bridge to reach the other side.

Seismic activity can cause rockslides and alter the terrain, creating new obstacles.

The sequel also features a full day-night cycle that impacts gameplay. Traveling through mountainous areas at night is riskier due to poor visibility, but it’s easier to sneak past bandits under the cover of darkness. Players should also be aware that new enemy types appear on the map after sunset.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach introduces a new character development system called the Automated Porter Assistant System (APAS), offering flexible customization of Sam’s abilities and skills. Players use a limited resource called "memories" to activate upgrades, which can be found throughout the world.

Much like in The Elder Scrolls series, Sam becomes more proficient in the skills he uses most. Frequent melee combat improves hand-to-hand fighting skills, while regular gunplay makes it easier to handle firearms over time.

Kojima mentioned that since fans have long been dreaming of Metal Gear Solid 6, he decided to meet them halfway by making Death Stranding closer to MGS. As a result, the sequel places more emphasis on combat encounters compared to the original, and the fights are more varied.

Sam’s arsenal now includes new weapons like the Blood Boomerang, which is effective against Beached Things. Thanks to the new skill system, gunplay feels smoother — for example, players can unlock an ability that essentially enables auto-aim. Sam also has new melee moves, including kicks and combo attacks.

Stealth mechanics have been revamped as well. Sam can deploy a scouting gadget called Dollman to mark enemies and key objects, making stealth gameplay more accessible. He can also remove his backpack to increase mobility and reduce noise. Additionally, players can upgrade Sam’s footsteps to make them even quieter.

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Perhaps the most important takeaway is that those who have already played Death Stranding 2 before release claim that it surpasses the original in every way. Of course, if you didn’t appreciate the structure or design philosophy of the first game, the sequel is unlikely to win you over. But for those who loved the previous title, something truly special awaits.

Share your thoughts in the comments — do you think DS2 differs enough from the original, or were you expecting even bigger changes?