PC gamers got some exciting news this week when the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) briefly listed a Windows PC version of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach on November 25, 2025. The rating disappeared within hours, but not before screenshots captured the listing. This accidental reveal strongly suggests Hideo Kojima’s latest game is heading to PC much faster than the original did.
What the ESRB Listing Revealed
The pulled ESRB rating showed Death Stranding 2 receiving a Mature 17+ rating for blood and gore, partial nudity, strong language, and violence. The description matched the PlayStation 5 version almost identically, mentioning the game’s bizarre elements like using a “battle guitar” as a melee weapon and scenes where “a character’s hands and legs are severed by a robotic samurai.” These details confirm the PC port will be a complete version of the PS5 release.
What stands out most is the publisher listed on the rating. Unlike the original Death Stranding, which 505 Games published on PC, the ESRB listing named Sony Interactive Entertainment as the publisher for the sequel’s PC version. This shift signals Sony’s growing commitment to bringing its first-party titles directly to PC, cutting out third-party publishers entirely.
How Fast Could the PC Port Arrive
Death Stranding 2 launched exclusively on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025. The ESRB rating appearing just five months later suggests a significantly shorter exclusivity window compared to previous PlayStation titles. For comparison, the original Death Stranding took eight months to reach PC after its PS4 launch in November 2019, arriving on Steam in July 2020.
Recent reports claim Sony is adopting a new six-month window for PC ports, down from the traditional one to two years. Sources from Nixxes Software, Sony’s dedicated PC porting studio, suggest this accelerated timeline is now the standard approach. If true, Death Stranding 2 could launch on PC before the end of 2025, possibly around the holiday season or early 2026.
Many industry watchers expect an official announcement at The Game Awards on December 12, 2025. Host Geoff Keighley has a close relationship with Hideo Kojima and has featured Death Stranding content at previous shows. The game is also nominated for Game of the Year at the ceremony, making it a perfect opportunity for Sony and Kojima Productions to reveal the PC version with a concrete release date.
Sony’s Changing PC Strategy
Sony’s approach to PC releases has evolved dramatically over the past few years. PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst previously stated the company takes a “thoughtful” and “measured” approach to PC ports to protect the PlayStation console’s value proposition. However, financial success on PC has clearly influenced their thinking.
The original Death Stranding proved extremely profitable on PC. Within five months of its July 2020 launch, the game generated over $27 million in revenue for 505 Games, making it their highest-grossing release of 2020. By October 2021, PC revenue had climbed to $31 million. Combined with PlayStation sales, the game reached 5 million copies sold by March 2021 and over 10 million players across all platforms by November 2022.
Sony’s entire portfolio of PC releases has collectively generated over $1 billion in revenue. This financial performance has pushed the company toward faster PC releases, with some titles like Helldivers 2 launching simultaneously on both platforms. While single-player narrative games like Death Stranding 2 still get timed exclusivity, that window continues to shrink.
Death Stranding 2 Sales Performance
Understanding the PC port timing requires looking at how Death Stranding 2 performed on PlayStation 5. According to analyst firm Ampere Analysis, the game sold approximately 1.4 million copies by the end of June 2025. With only five days of sales in that month, this represents a solid launch, though physical sales in Europe started slower than the original.
The game received outstanding critical acclaim and is currently nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025. Reviews praised it as “one of the defining games of the PS5 generation” with flawless transitions between action and traversal wrapped in an absorbing narrative. This critical success, combined with proven PC market demand from the first game, makes a PC port both expected and financially sensible.
What PC Players Can Expect
Based on the ESRB listing and Sony’s track record, the PC version should include all content from the PlayStation 5 release. The original Death Stranding PC port featured excellent optimization, ultrawide monitor support, high frame rates, and full keyboard and mouse controls alongside gamepad support. Nixxes Software has built a strong reputation for quality PC ports of PlayStation games, so expectations are high for similar treatment here.
Death Stranding 2 takes place in a fictional version of Australia, expanding on the delivery gameplay mechanics that defined the original while adding new features and story elements. The game’s open-world traversal systems and cinematic presentation should translate well to PC, especially for players with high-end hardware capable of pushing higher resolutions and frame rates than the PS5 version.
Kojima Productions has shown commitment to platform accessibility, with the original Death Stranding now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series consoles, PC, MacOS, and even iOS devices including iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. This multi-platform approach suggests Death Stranding 2 will eventually reach most gaming platforms, though PC appears to be next in line.
FAQs
Is Death Stranding 2 coming to PC?
Yes, an ESRB rating for a Windows PC version of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach appeared on November 25, 2025, before being quickly removed. This strongly indicates a PC version is in development and could be announced soon, possibly at The Game Awards in December.
When will Death Stranding 2 release on PC?
While no official date has been announced, the PC version could arrive before the end of 2025 or early 2026. The PS5 version launched on June 26, 2025, and reports suggest Sony now releases PC ports approximately six months after console launch, down from the previous 1-2 year window.
Who is publishing Death Stranding 2 on PC?
According to the leaked ESRB listing, Sony Interactive Entertainment will publish the PC version directly, unlike the original game which was published by 505 Games. This reflects Sony’s strategy of bringing first-party titles to PC through internal channels.
How long did the first Death Stranding take to come to PC?
The original Death Stranding launched on PlayStation 4 in November 2019 and arrived on PC eight months later in July 2020. The sequel appears to be following a much faster timeline, with only five months between the PS5 release and the ESRB rating appearing.
Will Death Stranding 2 come to Xbox?
While possible eventually, no Xbox version has been announced or rated. Kojima Productions owns the Death Stranding IP, giving them flexibility for platform releases. The original game took several years to reach Xbox consoles after its PC release, so Xbox players may face a longer wait than PC gamers.
How many copies has Death Stranding 2 sold?
Analyst firm Ampere Analysis estimates Death Stranding 2 sold approximately 1.4 million copies by the end of June 2025, with only five days of sales counted in that month. The game has received critical acclaim and is nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025.
Was the original Death Stranding successful on PC?
Yes, the PC version generated over $27 million in revenue within five months of its July 2020 launch, making it publisher 505 Games’ highest-grossing title of 2020. The game eventually reached 5 million copies sold across PlayStation and PC platforms combined.
What rating did Death Stranding 2 receive for PC?
The ESRB gave Death Stranding 2 a Mature 17+ rating for blood and gore, partial nudity, strong language, and violence. The rating description matches the PlayStation 5 version and includes details about the game’s unique combat mechanics and dystopian setting.
The Bigger Picture
This leak represents more than just one game coming to PC. It reflects Sony’s evolving approach to platform exclusivity in an industry where multiplatform releases have become increasingly important for maximizing revenue. While PlayStation executives still emphasize protecting console value through timed exclusives, the windows continue to shrink as PC proves to be a lucrative market. For Death Stranding 2, this means PC players won’t have to wait years like they did for other PlayStation exclusives. If the six-month window holds true, it could set a new standard for how quickly Sony brings its single-player narrative games to PC going forward.