Summary
Even though Hideo Kojima’s upcoming sequelDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachhas 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 ofDeath Stranding 2’s trailers, there is at least one more question to ask. One of the biggest lingering questions aboutDeath 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 Kojimaisn’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 aboutDeath Stranding 2after 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 ofDeath Stranding 2’s story.
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 reasonDeath Stranding 2’s subtitlemight be a red herring is that it shares a title with a 1957 Nevil Shute novel. Rather thanDeath Stranding 2actually being wholly aboutDeath 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 thatDeath Stranding 2will 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 ofDeath 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, sinceDeath 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
IfDeath Stranding 2’s subtitle has nothing to do with Shute’sOn 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 2may be more about burning bridgesthan 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 thanDeath Stranding 2actually being wholly aboutDeath 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” forDeath Stranding 2could mean everything, or it could mean nothing. Whether it’s a reference to Shute’s novel of the same name, a different view of theBeach introduced in the firstDeath Stranding, or a metaphor for isolation, the point may simply be to keep players guessing. IfDeath Stranding 2is anything like its predecessor, then whatever fans think they understand now is likely to unravel once the full picture comes into focus.
