Hideo Kojima wishes Death Stranding 2 playtesters found him ‘a bit more controversial’

Hideo Kojima, known for his unconventional approach to game design, does not seem to believe in crowd-pleasers. Despite that, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach might become a mainstream hit.

VGC reported that in a recent interview with Edge Magazine Kojima said, “I do wish I was a bit more controversial,” reflecting on the positive reaction Death Stranding 2 received from internal playtesters.

He contrasted the internal reception for Death Stranding 2 to the original Death Stranding: “In fact, I did a lot of monitoring tests for the original Death Stranding. I’d find that four out of ten people would love the game, but six would say it was a terrible game. For me, I think that’s a good balance. But with the playtests for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, everyone seems to be positive.”

That type of pre-release praise is normally music to a game studio founder’s ears, but Kojima is different. “I’m not interested in making something that appeals to everyone,” he said in the Edge interview. While the original Death Stranding — with its bold package delivery premise — was not a hit right out of the gate, more critics came around to it with its Director’s Cut edition. Amid a warming reception to the original Death Stranding, it makes sense that play testers for Death Stranding 2 are more ready to buy in.

Well, there’s that improving climate, and there’s also the fact that Death Stranding 2 looks like it’s building on the first game’s already ambitious base. Natural disasters like earthquakes and sandstorms create new challenges for traversing the world. On top of highways, players can also now set up efficient, but expensive, trade routes through monorails. Combat is becoming more core to the experience, with a new arsenal of sniper rifles, assault rifles, grenade launchers, and more. Even Sam’s backpack can be put down, allowing for more nimble combat and infiltration sequences. All together, it looks like Death Stranding 2 promises more freedom in how to overcome obstacles.

With all that packed inside an already unforgettable world, it is no surprise that play testers are responding positively. Balancing the desire for originality with more widespread success is a key consideration for Kojima, he said.

“Of course, I can’t afford to make a failure, either. I must take care of my studio, my staff, and our production budget. But in essence, I don’t want to simply recreate something that’s already in the world,” Kojima said. “I want to make something new.”

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to be released June 26, 2025 on PlayStation 5.