Death Stranding 2: Reflections on the Digital Tide
In a shift of perspective, renowned game creator Hideo Kojima, known for Death Stranding's focus on connection, expresses doubt about excessive linking in the post-COVID metaverse era, suggesting that overconnectivity might not be entirely desirable.
June is approaching, and Death Stranding 2 is on the horizon, though the anticipated PC release still remains uncertain. Let's hope it won't take another eight months like last time. Hideo Kojima, the creator and director, has been chatting it up in interviews, shedding light on the intriguing themes of both games.
It's worth noting that Death Stranding was developed prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, yet it managed to predict the future with eerie accuracy. As time wore on, the game's themes of isolation, delivery work, and internet-style social connections felt downright haunting.
Kojima spills the tea to IGN, "Death Stranding was developed before the pandemic. There were movements toward division at the time such as the United Kingdom leaving the EU, and so both its story and gameplay were created based on my thoughts on that during that time. But then Covid started three months after the game’s release, and I was truly shocked."
In case you've forgotten, the United Kingdom narrowly voted to leave the EU in 2016, amid a contentious national campaign riddled with half-truths and misguided notions like "taking back control." The UK officially left the EU in 2020, and while opinions vary, economists generally view it as an act of self-sabotage, with ongoing political aftershocks.
"Now in the 21st century, though, we have the Chiral Network... which is to say the internet," Kojima continues. "Spanish flu struck in the early 20th century, but we were able to survive this time because we were connected by the internet. We started working remotely, while concerts and live events vanished. We had no choice but to rely on the internet. Children couldn't go to school or play and had to stare at screens all day."
I'm all in for Kojima Casually Dissing the Metaverse, especially since he seems right on the money. What's fascinating about Kojima's thoughts is where they lead, implying that he might have been too optimistic about the idea of people connecting through digital means.
"This may sound strange, but I made the first game based on the theme of, 'We're in danger of being divided and isolated, so let's connect,'" says Kojima. "Then Covid hit, and I felt that maybe it’s not such a good thing to connect so much. That feeling is foreshadowed in lots of different scenes and settings, including 'the stick and the rope.' I think there are portions that players will only understand once they reach the end of the game. What I felt during the pandemic is quite strongly reflected within this title."
Kojima also talks about the strands that once adorned the original's logo, now dangling above it like puppet strings in the sequel.
"It's kind of like the logo for The Godfather," says Kojima. "This applies to Dollman too, and you'll find enemies dangling from strands if you go to the weapons factory as well. I added a lot of moments that will make players aware of the presence of different strands. When you really think about it, what does it mean to be connected? I hope you'll play the game when it comes out at the end of June. You've all lived through Covid, so there should be something to resonate with for everyone."
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"This may seem peculiar," Kojima reflects, "But the themes of the first game were about connection and unity to combat global division. Covid hit after, and I realized that maybe excessive connection isn't always beneficial. The sequel explores these ideas more closely, questioning whether constant digital connections can be harmful. I hope that resonates with players when it releases in June."
In essence, Kojima's experiences during the pandemic have led him to question the very essence of connection – and so should we all.
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- The anticipation for Death Stranding 2's PC release in June continues, yet its release date remains unconfirmed.
- Hideo Kojima, the creator of Death Stranding, has been discussing the game's intriguing themes in interviews, revealing that the game was developed prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Despite being created prior to the pandemic, Death Stranding eerily predicted the future, with themes of isolation, delivery work, and internet-style social connections feeling hauntingly relevant.
- Kojima acknowledged that the game's themes of division and isolation were based on his thoughts about movements such as the United Kingdom leaving the EU.
- The United Kingdom voted to leave the EU in 2016, a contentious decision that was followed by economists deeming it an act of self-sabotage with ongoing political aftershocks.
- Kojima highlighted that the internet allowed survival during the Spanish flu, but in the 21st century, people had to rely on it even more due to social distancing measures.
- Kojima expressed concern over excessive digital connections, noting that children had to spend their days staring at screens instead of playing outdoors.
- Kojima's themes in the first game were about combating global division through connection, yet he realized after the pandemic that excessive connection might not always be beneficial.
- Death Stranding 2 is set to explore these ideas further, questioning whether constant digital connections can be potentially harmful.
- Kojima's experiences during the pandemic have led him to question the very essence of connection, prompting him to delve deeper into these themes in the sequel.
- Players can expect to find numerous scenes and settings in the sequel that reflect Kojima's feelings during the pandemic.
- The strands that once adorned the original's logo now hang above it like puppet strings in the sequel, symbolizing connectedness.
- Kojima compared the logo's design to that of The Godfather, and players will encounter enemies dangling from strands if they visit the weapons factory in the sequel.
- Kojima encourages players to think about what it means to be connected and hopes they'll play the game when it releases in June.
- Players who have lived through the Covid-19 pandemic should find resonance in the themes presented in Death Stranding 2.
- Stay tuned for the latest gaming news, reviews, and hardware deals.
- Explore our comprehensive coverage of the gaming world, including new releases, revisiting classics, and discussions on upcoming games.
- As Kojima's experiences have made him reconsider the essence of connection, we too should reflect on the role of digital connections in our modern lifestyle.
