The release date forDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachis officially June 26, but an opt-in early access window and different regions around the world complicate the matter, but only a little. The highly anticipated sequel to Kojima Productions' bizarre delivery game is likely to be just as divisive, but for fans of the first game, and of legendary writer and director Hideo Kojima, playing as early as possible is the goal.
Anyone eager to jump intoDeath Stranding 2after itsimpressive Metacritic scoremay consider theDigital Deluxe Editionfor its inclusion of early access entitlement. You’ll get a head start on Sam’s new journey, plus some in-game bonuses.Death Stranding 2is a long game and primarily single-player, however, so shelling out the extra cash for early access isn’t exactly necessary – you may just get a bit of FOMO.
When You Can Play Death Stranding 2 Early Access
Play Two Days Early
Early access toDeath Stranding 2gives you two days to play ahead of the wider release. While the game sports asymmetrical multiplayer elements, you won’t be at a disadvantage when hopping in early. You’ll be connected with plenty of other people playing in early access and those who have been playing throughout the pre-release review period.
Death Stranding 2’s early access release is exceptionally straightforward:early access unlocks at midnight local time on June 24, perIGN’s confirmation from Kojima Productions.
12:00am
When You Can Play Death Stranding 2
Midnight Local Time On June 26
Death Stranding 2’s standard release date, June 26, sees a similar pattern for unlock times. If you’ve pre-ordered the game and have it downloaded ahead of time,you can play at midnight local time on June 26.
Critics Are Loving Kojima’s Latest
A Masterpiece
The originalDeath Strandingproved to be a bit divisive upon release, butsix years ruminating on its vision seems to have resulted in a more favorable critical reception to its sequel.Death Stranding 2: On the Beachis garnering exceptional praise, making it a bona fideGame of the Year contender. The first game’s novel gamepay returns with many improvements, and it boasts the unrivaled cinematic quality Kojima has become known for.
I was personally smitten byDeath Stranding 2, and believe it to be a step above the already brilliant first game. My full thoughts can be found inmyDeath Stranding 2review, but it’s safe to say: if you like the first game, you’ll enjoy the sequel.I was deeply moved by many moments in the story, and believe its characterization is a specific strong point;On the Beachcenters its characters more than its predecessor, and the narrative is overall much more compelling because of it.
That said, it’s hard to recommend the second gamewithout playing the firstDeath Stranding. The world Kojima has built is exceptionally esoteric, and the narrative picks up not long after the first game ends. The two games are clearly meant to be considered as two halves of a whole, and whileDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachmakes an effort to recap some events, it would be hard to appreciate it without knowledge of the first game.
