Kojima Productions says its post-apocalyptic franchise continues to grow, with a recent press release putting the Death Stranding series at more than 27 million players worldwide. The studio counts buyers alongside players who accessed the game through subscriptions and a free Epic Games Store giveaway.
Published on July 24, 2026, the press release says the series reached 20 million players in March 2025 before climbing to 27 million by July 2026.
a cumulative total of 27 million players across the series to date
Death Stranding debuted in 2019 and is set in a post-apocalyptic world. The series is known for traversal, exploration, and asynchronous multiplayer systems that let players indirectly assist one another.
The original Death Stranding first launched on PlayStation 4 before expanding to PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Its sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, has already released on PlayStation 5 and PC.
The 27 million-player mark also comes amid discussion of the original Death Stranding at CEDEC 2026. For Kojima Productions, it is another sign that the franchise continues to draw a large audience years after its debut.
Meanwhile, a live-action Death Stranding movie is currently in development, promising plenty of action without excessive violence.
How much do you think subscriptions and the Epic Games Store giveaway helped push Death Stranding past 27 million players?
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