Hideo Kojima has already planned where the Death Stranding franchise goes next, but fans shouldn’t expect him to be the one bringing that vision to life. The legendary game director revealed during the Death Stranding 2 World Strand Tour in August 2025 that he’s already written the concept for Death Stranding 3, complete with plot details and ideas stored on a USB drive. However, Kojima made it clear he has no plans to direct the third game himself, hoping instead that someone else at Kojima Productions will take up the mantle.
The Ending That Brought Closure
Kojima explained his reasoning during an appearance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, telling the audience that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach serves as his finale for the story he started in the original game. The ending wraps up the narrative arc he envisioned for Sam Porter Bridges and the world of the Death Stranding, giving him creative closure on that chapter. For players who’ve experienced the second game, the conclusion apparently ties together threads from both installments in a way Kojima felt satisfied with.
That doesn’t mean the franchise is dead, though. Kojima specifically mentioned that he’s documented his ideas for a third game, storing the concept in data form. He even suggested Death Stranding could have endless sequels thanks to something called plate gates, a new element introduced in the second game that expands the possibilities for future stories. The franchise has built a unique post-apocalyptic world with enough lore and mechanics to support multiple entries without feeling repetitive.
Too Many Projects On His Plate
The reason Kojima won’t be making Death Stranding 3 himself comes down to bandwidth. Between the original Death Stranding and its sequel, he’s spent the better part of a decade working on this franchise. That’s a long time to live in the same creative space, and Kojima clearly wants to explore different ideas. He’s currently juggling multiple ambitious projects that demand his attention and creative energy.
First, there’s OD, the horror game he’s developing in collaboration with Xbox Game Studios and filmmaker Jordan Peele. The project aims to be something completely different from anything Kojima has done before, though details remain intentionally vague. Second, there’s Physint, an espionage game being produced with PlayStation that seems spiritually connected to Metal Gear Solid. Finally, Kojima is heavily involved in the Death Stranding movie being produced by A24, which requires significant creative input even though he’s not directing it himself.
The SAG Strike Impact
Both OD and Physint hit development roadblocks due to the SAG-AFTRA strike that began in July 2024. Motion capture scanning, actor filming, and casting all got suspended for months, pushing both projects further down the timeline. Death Stranding 2 avoided these issues because it was already in production before the strike started, allowing actors to continue working without crossing picket lines. The delays on his other games make it even less likely Kojima would find time for Death Stranding 3 anytime soon.
Passing The Torch
Kojima has been increasingly open about succession planning at Kojima Productions. In interviews with Edge magazine earlier in 2025, he revealed he’d given a USB stick containing all his creative ideas to his personal assistant, describing it as something like a creative will. He’s explicitly thinking about what happens to the studio after he’s gone and doesn’t want the team to just manage existing intellectual property without creating new experiences.
The studio has talented people who could potentially take over. Shuyo Murata directed Zone of the Enders 2 and co-directed Metal Gear Solid 4 with Kojima. Yoji Shinkawa was also co-director on MGS4 and Kojima originally recommended him to direct Metal Gear Solid 3. These aren’t rookies who need hand-holding. They’re experienced creators who’ve worked on beloved games and understand what makes Kojima Productions tick.
The Uncharted Comparison
This situation mirrors what happened with Uncharted at Naughty Dog. After making multiple successful games in that franchise, Naughty Dog said they wouldn’t make Uncharted 5 themselves but were open to another studio taking over. That openness eventually led to Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a shorter standalone game that proved the franchise could work without series veterans Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley at the helm. Whether Death Stranding 3 follows a similar path remains uncertain.
The difference is that Death Stranding feels much more personal to Kojima than Uncharted did to Naughty Dog. The first game was his statement of independence after leaving Konami, tackling themes of connection, isolation, and rebuilding society in ways that seemed deeply meaningful to him. Handing that over to someone else carries risk. Will they understand what makes Death Stranding special beyond the surface-level weirdness? Can they capture the balance between gameplay mechanics and philosophical themes?
What Death Stranding 2 Set Up
Players who finished Death Stranding 2 have noticed potential hooks for a third game despite Kojima calling it his finale. Without spoiling specifics, the game introduces new characters, expands the mythology in significant ways, and leaves certain questions unanswered. The plate gates mechanic that Kojima mentioned could theoretically open up entirely new regions or dimensions to explore, giving a hypothetical third game plenty of material to work with.
The character Tomorrow, who plays a significant role in Death Stranding 2, has fans speculating she could be the protagonist of a third game instead of Sam Porter Bridges. That would allow the franchise to continue with fresh perspective while staying connected to the established lore. Some players would prefer this over continuing Sam’s story, which Kojima already gave proper closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kojima say he’s not making Death Stranding 3?
Kojima made these comments during the Death Stranding 2 World Strand Tour in August 2025, specifically at an event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He’s repeated similar sentiments in other interviews throughout 2025.
Has anyone been announced to direct Death Stranding 3?
No. Kojima merely expressed hope that someone else would make it. There’s been no announcement about Death Stranding 3 entering production or who might lead the project.
What other projects is Kojima working on?
Kojima is currently working on OD (a horror game with Xbox and Jordan Peele), Physint (an espionage game with PlayStation), the Death Stranding movie with A24, and reportedly a mobile game collaboration with Niantic.
Could Death Stranding 3 still happen?
Yes. Kojima has the concept written and has expressed that he wants someone to make it. Whether Kojima Productions assigns someone to the project or Kojima changes his mind in the future remains unknown.
What are plate gates in Death Stranding?
Plate gates are a new element introduced in Death Stranding 2 that expand the world’s lore and possibilities. Kojima mentioned they could enable endless sequels, though specific details about how they work involve spoilers for Death Stranding 2.
When does Death Stranding 2 come to PC?
The ESRB rated Death Stranding 2 for Windows PC in November 2025, suggesting a PC release is coming. Sony hasn’t officially announced a release date, but based on past patterns, it could arrive anywhere from 8 to 18 months after the PlayStation 5 version.
Who could direct Death Stranding 3 at Kojima Productions?
Potential candidates include Shuyo Murata (directed Zone of the Enders 2, co-directed MGS4) and Yoji Shinkawa (co-director on MGS4). Both have extensive experience leading projects and understand Kojima’s creative vision.
Is Death Stranding 2 the last game in the series?
Not necessarily. Kojima called it his personal finale for the story he wanted to tell with Sam Porter Bridges, but that doesn’t mean the franchise itself is finished. A third game with different creative leadership remains possible.
The Reality of Moving On
Kojima spent nearly three decades working on Metal Gear before finally breaking away from that franchise. The experience taught him the dangers of being trapped by your own success, forced to make sequels not because you want to but because business demands it. He’s clearly determined not to let that happen with Death Stranding. By documenting his ideas but stepping away from active development, he’s trying to have it both ways. The franchise can continue if there’s appetite for it, but he’s free to explore new creative territory without being chained to Sam Porter’s delivery missions forever. Whether someone at Kojima Productions steps up to make Death Stranding 3 or the concept remains forever on that USB drive depends on factors we can’t predict. For now, Kojima seems content knowing he told the story he wanted to tell across two games, and anything beyond that is someone else’s problem to solve.