For fans of "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach," speculation has gone rampant regarding the post-launch plans. Well, Hideo Kojima himself has spilled some post-launch content beans, and it doesn't appear that the team at Kojima Productions is taking that route this time. However, people looking for small episodes worth of DLC might want to adjust their expectations.
During a new KOJI10 radio show episode, Kojima-san announced that there were no plans for installment-style paid DLC expansions-for-now. The reason. He feels there's a dwindling trend in that type of gaming. It certainly is a view from a boundary-pushing creator, and while it does not completely close things off for potential changes in this plan, right now the emphasis is clear: delivering a complete experience at launch.
Kojima said that the studio will be delivering necessary bug fixes and improvements for "Death Stranding 2," along with possibly hinting at something new never included in the original, which certainly excites us. What could that be.
It is very intriguing to hear about aspects of a game that did not make the cut. Kojima also divulged an incredibly realistic "hair system" that had been part of "Death Stranding 2" Somewhat like Sam's hair and beard growing through time. Imagine the possibility of trimming his beard, cutting hair, and dyeing it, all by visiting a mirror. However, this rather detailed system was never integrated. The reasoning goes that Sam Porter Bridges isn't just avatar-created from scratch but is a character with certain maybe that such comprehensive personalization did not fit so well into the vision.
The journey toward "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" has been one of constantly changing directions, especially with the kind of global shifts that we have experienced. Kojima confirmed that the first concept of the game changed significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic happened last 2020. This expansion was originally very much like "1.5" of the first game, an event that would have opened other continents in a world with no air travel.
But with this entire aspect of old-school thinking on what DLC means no longer relevant, the entire concept about that also became obsolete. He just started making a sequel now from scratch. The pandemic also heavily affected that idea. This clearly shows how flexible the development of games is. Interesting enough, one thing that has survived from such very early concepts is the opening sequence of the game which has been thought of as a post-credit scene for "Death Stranding Director's Cut" to link both titles.
Episode 19 of #KOJI10 «Let’s Answer Questions About Death Stranding 2»
— NV (@naven0m) May 27, 2025
Hair System Removed, Pre-COVID Storyline, DLCs? pic.twitter.com/CG2frbVZz0
"Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" is set to be released for the PlayStation 5 on the 26th of June, marking yet another unique journey in thought by Kojima Productions.
