Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Story Trailer explained

Rishabh Sabarwal
Norman Reedus in Death Stranding 2

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has finally received a story trailer and reveals crucial details about the plot that fans can expect. Here’s the breakdown.

After more than four years, Hideo Kojima offered fans a taste of Death Stranding 2 by releasing an expanded look at the much-anticipated sequel. Players can look forward to returning to the post-apocalyptic in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, the direct sequel to the popular 2019 game.

A 10-minute trailer showed off Kojima’s genius with breathtaking visuals and cinematic prowess at PlayStation’s State of Play on January 31, 2024. However, towards the end, it was revealed that the game will release in 2025 on the PS5.

Drawbridge entrance in Death Stranding 2

Despite Kojima’s penchant for keeping everything under wraps until the game’s release, the teaser did reveal several important plot points and introduced fans to both new and returning characters. Here’s the breakdown of the story trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Story Trailer breakdown

The story trailer for Death Stranding 2 begins with a big reveal, which is George Miller, the visionary director behind the Mad Max franchise, and Léa Seydoux’s Fragile operating on a patient inside of a ship, who is rumored to be Shioli Kutsuna’s character affected by a Voidout event.

As they operate on her, the black liquid containing chiral crystals pours across the room, and Fragile and Miller discover dots and needles on her hand that resemble Octopus bites. Fragile soon welcomes Sam on the ship DHV Magellan, which serves as Drawbridge’s mobile base of operations.

However, at this time, their colors are monochrome, implying that the ship is returning as a means of transit in voidout regions. Fragile then gives Sam a tour of the ship, beginning with the armory and progressing to his living quarters.

Fragile then informs Sam that Drawbridge is a civilian organization with a generous patron and access to a wealth of resources and technology. The patron also desires to stay anonymous and not divulge their identity but wishes to continue supporting Fragile’s operations.

George Miller in Death Stranding 2

A little later, Fragile prepares Sam to connect the rest of the globe, like he did with the UCA. Fatih Akin, a Turkish-German director, plays a talking puppet who travels beside Sam.

As Sam leaves, Fragile explains that the UCA is not aiming to expand its borders, but rather to welcome more regions into the Chiral Network. Once Sam has connected a city (also known as KNOT), DHV Magellan will gather at his place to aid him further.

Sam’s goal in the game is to pave the path to network expansion, while Fragile serves as Commander of the ship and Drawbridge. Fragile then tells Sam that Death Stranding is still at large and far from over.

Troy Baker in Death Stranding 2

The trailer continues to show new gameplay aspects such as new BT monsters, vehicles, the Magellan sinking into a voidout lake to rescue any survivors, and new weapons. Fragile also tells Sam that after the Chiral Network was operational, BRIDGES closed up shop and left the distribution network in the UCA.

Fragile took over and constructed Drawbridge to extend the Chiral Network and unite the planet to prevent another Death Stranding. However, another group named APAS exists, which is a terrorist faction commanded by Higgs, who also leads Homo Demens and has returned from the grave to pursue vengeance against Sam.

After being captured by Higgs, Sam asks if he killed Lou. Before Higgs can respond, a BB container seemingly carrying Lou’s BT goes on the attack. This was also hinted at in the first DS2 teaser when Fragile fled with a baby Lou on a Unibike.

Elle Fanning in Death Stranding 2

Soon after Higgs confronts the APAS robots, the scene changes to a somber moment between Sam and Lou, which occurred prior to Higgs’ supposedly killing her. Once the title card appears, Elle Fanning’s character hides in the corridor of the surgical room, where Miller and Sam discuss the amino acid and chiralium levels of the woman impacted by the voidout.

Then Fanning’s character wanders away from the frame, but we detect strands levitating around her, implying that she is at the beach, similar to Amelie in the original game. While there are numerous hypotheses concerning Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s storyline, Hideo Kojima stated on X that the first teaser contains hints about the events depicted in the teaser.

However, the official synopsis reads, “In DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam—with companions by his side—sets out on a new journey to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they traverse a world beset by otherworldly enemies, obstacles, and a haunting question: should we have connected? Step by step, legendary game creator Hideo Kojima changes the world once again.”

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