Rather than creating story DLCs that would alter the game's narrative after launch—similar to the approach some take with franchises like Star Wars—Death Stranding 2 creator Hideo Kojima prefers to focus on quality-of-life updates. Read on to learn more about his perspective on this practice and get the latest details on OD and Physint.
Hideo Kojima Rules Out Story DLCs for Death Stranding 2
Focusing on Enhancing Player Experience Instead
Hideo Kojima, the creator of Death Stranding 2, has shared that he would rather prioritize quality-of-life improvements than develop story-based DLC for his games. He explained that a story should remain intact and reflective of the era in which it was originally created.
"Some elements are better left untouched. The story, for instance, belongs to a specific time and context," Kojima told IndieWire in a recent interview. "Take George Lucas, for example—he updated 'Star Wars' with full CGI, but that was a product of a new era. I don’t want to alter anything that impacts the original time period when the story first emerged."
By avoiding additional downloadable content, Kojima aims to prevent the sense that his projects, including Death Stranding 2, would remain perpetually unfinished—choosing instead to refine and enhance the core experience. The narrative for Death Stranding 2 underwent extensive development, with Kojima previously noting that he rewrote parts of the story for being too 'mainstream.' In his IndieWire interview, he clarified that only the first half of the game follows his initial script.
Kojima emphasized his preference for fine-tuning gameplay elements, such as improving item accessibility or enlarging the user interface. He mentioned that he regularly analyzes player statistics, in-game routes, and even cutscene viewing times to identify areas for improvement.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launched on June 26, 2025, for PlayStation 5. For the latest news and updates on the game, take a look at our related article below!
