Summary
- “On the Beach” in Death Stranding 2 may not be literal, but rather a reference to a novel’s themes.
- The subtitle could symbolize isolation instead of necessarily representing the Beach itself.
- Kojima’s use of the subtitle may intentionally keep players guessing about the true meaning.
Even though Hideo Kojima’s upcoming sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has received two trailers, each over ten minutes long, there is still plenty to speculate about regarding its story, gameplay, characters, and worldbuilding. In true Kojima fashion, for every potential answer shown in one of Death Stranding 2‘s trailers, there is at least one more question to ask. One of the biggest lingering questions about Death Stranding 2‘s premise and title ultimately revolves around its subtitle, “On the Beach,” which seems to suggest a concept introduced in the first game, but it may be something else entirely.
Hideo Kojima isn’t known for shooting straight in his marketing, primarily because he’s a storyteller first and doesn’t want his stories to be spoiled in any way ahead of time. In fact, Norman Reedus has gone on record saying that Hideo “yelled” at him for spoiling some bits of the first game’s story, so that’s likely to ring true even more for the sequel. Ultimately, this means that what fans might think they know about Death Stranding 2 after seeing its two lengthy trailers may and probably will be subverted once the game releases in June. Those theories include anything about what the game’s “On the Beach” subtitle could mean, potentially making it more of a red herring than a true indication of Death Stranding 2‘s story.
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Death Stranding 2’s Subtitle Might Not Mean What It Seems
Death Stranding 2’s Subtitle Shares a Title With a Nevil Shute Novel
The first reason Death Stranding 2‘s subtitle might be a red herring is that it shares a title with a 1957 Nevil Shute novel. Rather than Death Stranding 2 actually being wholly about Death Stranding‘s Beach or someone on it, it might simply observe the same themes and narrative structure as Nevil Shute’s novel of the same name. The novel, which centers around the aftermath of a global nuclear catastrophe, thematically revolves around the survivors’ understanding that death is inevitable, and they can’t escape, all while trying to find meaning in a doomed world.
It could be that Death Stranding 2 will be a parallel to Shute’s novel, with those same existential themes. If so, the game’s story might be doomed from the start, and considering the oppressive and hopeless nature of Death Stranding 2‘s pre-order trailer, that may turn out to be the case. In other words, instead of its “On the Beach” subtitle linking its story to the Beach itself, it could be Kojima’s way of hinting at a world that can’t be saved, and its last remaining survivors are now on a psychological journey forced upon them by an unavoidable fate.
On the other hand, since Death Stranding‘s Beach is the space between life and death, “On the Beach” could be both a thematic symbol of the sequel’s story and what actually takes place.
Death Stranding 2’s Subtitle Might Be Nothing More Than a Metaphor for Isolation
If Death Stranding 2‘s subtitle has nothing to do with Shute’s On the Beach, it could be nothing more than a metaphor for isolation, especially given the tagline in the game’s recent pre-order trailer, “We should not have connected.” In light of that, Death Stranding 2 may be more about burning bridges than building them, showcasing the duality of connection with a special emphasis on the negative side effects. “On the Beach” could therefore refer to one who is stranded on the Beach as a metaphor for those isolated rather than connected.
Rather than Death Stranding 2 actually being wholly about Death Stranding‘s Beach or someone on it, it might simply observe the same themes and narrative structure as Nevil Shute’s novel of the same name.
At the end of the day, Kojima’s use of the subtitle “On the Beach” for Death Stranding 2 could mean everything, or it could mean nothing. Whether it’s a reference to Shute’s novel of the same name, a different view of the Beach introduced in the first Death Stranding, or a metaphor for isolation, the point may simply be to keep players guessing. If Death Stranding 2 is anything like its predecessor, then whatever fans think they understand now is likely to unravel once the full picture comes into focus.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
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June 26, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
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Decima
- Franchise
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Death Stranding
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
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June 26, 2025
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