Hideo Kojima marked seven years of Death Stranding on X, writing that the game had turned seven and thanking the "Someones" who play it around the world. The original launched on PlayStation 4 on November 8, 2019, and Kojima Productions has since released a Director's Cut on five platforms and a full sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, on PlayStation 5 and PC. Check out the official post down below:
The Short Answer: Two Games, One Story
The mainline series is two games long, and the play order matches the release order. Death Stranding comes first, followed by Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. There is no prequel, side game or spin-off that has to be played in between, and the Director's Cut is an expanded version of the first game rather than a separate entry.
- Death Stranding (2019): PlayStation 4 on November 8, 2019, then PC through 505 Games in 2020.
- Death Stranding Director's Cut (2021): PlayStation 5 on September 24, 2021, PC on March 30, 2022, iPhone, iPad and Mac on January 30, 2024, and Xbox Series X|S on November 7, 2024.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (2025): PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025, and PC on March 19, 2026.
Death Stranding (2019)
Death Stranding was the first game from Kojima Productions after the studio was founded in 2015. Its official description sets it in the near future, after mysterious explosions set off a series of supernatural events called the Death Stranding. Otherworldly creatures roam the land, mass extinction is close, and Sam Porter Bridges has to cross the ruins of America to reconnect the last survivors. Norman Reedus plays Sam, with Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux and Lindsay Wagner in the main cast. Sony Interactive Entertainment published the PlayStation 4 release, while 505 Games published the PC versions of the original and the Director's Cut.
The structure is built around deliveries. Sam carries cargo between isolated outposts, and each connection adds that location to the Chiral Network. The Social Strand System lets structures, signs and dropped cargo from other players appear in your world, so a ladder or bridge someone else built can save a trip. Kojima Productions said in November 2024 that the game had connected with over 19 million players worldwide.
Why The Director's Cut Is The Version To Play
Death Stranding Director's Cut is the version Kojima Productions lists on every current storefront, and it contains the full original story. The PlayStation 5 release on September 24, 2021, added extended storylines, new missions, more weapons, equipment and vehicles, and new modes. PlayStation's announcement confirmed that the Half-Life and Cyberpunk 2077 crossover items from the original PC version carried over as well.
The studio's PC launch notes list the specific additions. The Ruined Factory is a new underground location with its own dangers. Delivery assists include cargo catapults, ramps and a stabilizer, and Sam can ride Buddy Bots across the wasteland. Melee combat gains a dropkick, the Maser Gun pacifies enemies with electricity, a firing range lets players test loadouts, and a racetrack hosts the Fragile Circuit racing mode. The PS5 version supports a performance mode at scaled 4K up to 60 frames per second and a native 4K fidelity mode.
Kojima Productions links the Director's Cut on PlayStation 5, Steam and the Epic Games Store, the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and the Microsoft Store for Xbox Series X|S. The Apple version is a universal purchase that runs on iPhone 15 Pro models and on iPads and Macs with an M1 chip or later. The Xbox release on November 7, 2024, is an Xbox Play Anywhere title shared with Windows PC. PlayStation also lists Death Stranding Director's Cut and the original PS4 game in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium members.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (2025)
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a single-player game rated Mature 17+. It launched on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025, and on PC on March 19, 2026, with Steam and the Epic Games Store listed as PC storefronts. Kojima Productions' official pitch is a mission of human connection beyond the UCA: Sam and his companions set out to save humanity from extinction, facing otherworldly enemies and the question "Should we have connected?"
PlayStation's product page fills in the setup. The story begins eleven months after the first game, and Sam's new task is to connect Australia to the Chiral Network. The world adds day and night cycles, earthquakes, sandstorms and forest fires on top of Timefall, the rain that instantly ages whatever it touches. Sam can fabricate machine guns, shotguns and grenade launchers or avoid fights with decoy holograms, silent takedowns and long-range gear, and APAS enhancements add skills such as faster weapon fire or quieter movement.
The sequel's cast includes Norman Reedus as Sam, Léa Seydoux as Fragile, Troy Baker as Higgs, Elle Fanning as Tomorrow, Shioli Kutsuna as Rainy and Luca Marinelli as Neil. Ma Dong-seok, Alissa Jung, George Miller, Nicolas Winding Refn and Guillermo del Toro also appear. Kojima produced, designed and directed it, Yoji Shinkawa handled character and mecha designs, Yuji Shimomura directed the action, and Ludvig Forssell composed the score, with songs from Woodkid.
A March 2026 update for PS5 and PC added the extreme difficulty To The Wilder, a VR Training mode called Trapped in a Strange Realm for replaying the Neil boss fights, new Photo Mode poses and frames, the Porter Suit: Link and Patch: Link, and 21:9 ultrawide support on both platforms.
Do You Need To Play The First Game?
PlayStation's own FAQ says there is no requirement to play Death Stranding before the sequel. Death Stranding 2 includes a summary of the first game's story, which Sony describes as a primer for newcomers and a refresher for returning players: after the extinction event called the Death Stranding, Sam Porter Bridges reconnects the fractured United Cities of America one outpost at a time using the Chiral Network. Sony adds that familiarity with the original, in either its first release or the Director's Cut, helps with the gameplay, story and characters of the sequel.
The sequel also assumes you know who Sam, Fragile and Higgs are and why the Chiral Network matters, since all three return. Playing the Director's Cut first covers every returning character and system in one game, while the built-in recap is there for players who start with On the Beach.
Death Stranding Beyond The Games
The series is also expanding into animation. Gamefragger covered the news in DEATH STRANDING Anime Lands Streaming Home On Disney+ With Premiere Set For 2027. Check out the official trailer down below:
Did you start with the original Death Stranding, the Director's Cut, or jump straight into Death Stranding 2: On the Beach?
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