Player feedback has shaped combat in Death Stranding 2

As the highly anticipated release date of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach approaches, developer Kojima Productions is peeling back the curtain on how the sequel is being forged. Lead level designer Hiroaki Yoshiike has revealed new details about the game in a recent interview, where he talked about the impact of player feedback on certain aspects of the upcoming game.

Combat reborn by the community

Feedback from the original Death Stranding sparked a reevaluation of its combat system, which some players found secondary to the traversal mechanics. Kojima Productions has listened, and the sequel introduces a combat system that feels more responsive, varied, and purposeful. The game offers the players three main choices to choose from when facing any encounter.

Whether you choose to use stealth, fight or just avoid confrontation, Death Stranding 2 will offer you a variety of tools for each purpose. However, if you choose to fight, the new combat system introduces a revamped arsenal and improves gunplay as part of a new approach that gives players more agency without sacrificing narrative cohesion. A certain influence of the Metal Gear series will definitely be noticeable in some of the novelties. The goal? Create combat encounters that feel less like interruptions and more like meaningful moments.

With Kojima Productions in full control of the franchise, the studio has had total freedom to design Death Stranding 2 following new paths that make it more than just a new chapter in the story. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has been built like a bridge, linking the original game’s ideas with player desires, and stitching in Kojima’s past design legacies in a fresh, unexpected context.

The release of the game is scheduled for June 26, 2025. As usual, you can find the best discounts for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach with our comparator if you want to join Norman Reedus in this new adventure.