For Kojima, those experiences led to a different approach for the sequel. His own sense of isolation that arose from having to develop Death Stranding 2 with a remote team saw him reconsidering its tale — yet it’s also this isolation that led to Kojima realizing the perils of digital connectivity.

I n case you wondered, yes, all the Kojima-related Easter eggs sprinkled through Death Stranding 2: On The Beach were indeed created by game creator and director Hideo Kojima himself.

Speaking to IGN Japan, Kojima was asked about the casting of Japanese actress Shioli Kutsuna in Death Stranding 2, and Kojima used this opportunity to explain the technical challenges in casting more Japanese talent in his games.