As we get closer to the June 26 release of PS5-exclusive Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, it looks like Kojima Productions has started inviting press outlets to get some hands-on experience with the game. Several outlets have revealed through social media posts that they have been invited to the Kojima Productions offices to try out the game.
VGC is one of the publications that has confirmed that it is getting some hands-on time with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Preview articles for the game will seemingly go live on May 8. In a post on BlueSky, the publication posted: “VGC is playing Death Stranding 2 at Kojima Productions. Look out for our preview coverage on May 8.”
GameSpot and Giant Bomb’s Dan Rykert has also confirmed that he will be getting some time with the game as well. On BlueSky, Rykert posted: “I’m thrilled to be spending the week at Kojima Productions in Tokyo and playing a ton of Death Stranding 2. Look for my preview on GameSpot on May 8!”
Other publications that have been invited for hands-on time playing Death Stranding 2: On the Beach include Kinda Funny Games, Game Informer, and Eurogamer, among others.
The last thing we saw about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was the trailer that was released during SXSW 2025, which also announced the game’s June 26 release date. Since then, director Hideo Kojima has revealed that the lengthy trailer had quite a few hints about the game for players to uncover. Taking to social media platform X, Kojima revealed a couple of the hints, including parts of the SSS highways featuring roofs.
“If you look closely at the game system, there are a number of clues,” posted Kojima on X. “For example, the SSS highways — you will see that some areas have a roof. Also, the structures glow brightly like convenience stores at night.”
Earlier this month, Kojima also revealed that the real-life bokka couriers that influenced the gameplay in Death Stranding will be making an appearance in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. For context, a bokka is a Japanese courier that travels to remote areas by scaling mountains to deliver supplies. Bokka typically carry their goods on a wooden frame on their back, similar to the more futuristic frames we see in Death Stranding.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has been inching ever-closer to its release date. Kojima said earlier this month that the development on Death Stranding 2 is around 95 percent complete. Comparing the development cycle to a 24-hour clock, he said that Death Stranding 2 is currently sitting at 10 pm (22:00 in a 24-hour clock), with 12 am marking the end of development.
In revealing the progress of the development on the game, Kojima revealed back in March that the audio mixing and ADR work on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach had been completed. Kojima also thanked the team at Molinaire in London for their help in wrapping up the audio work on the game.
VGC is playing Death Stranding 2 at Kojima Productions. Look out for our preview coverage on May 8
— VGC (@videogameschronicle.com) 2025-04-22T10:54:10.007Z
I’m thrilled to be spending the week at Kojima Productions in Tokyo and playing a ton of Death Stranding 2. Look for my preview on GameSpot on May 8!
— Dan Ryckert (@danryckert.com) 2025-04-22T10:00:00.693Z
In Japan for the week to play Death Stranding 2. Impressions will be out in two weeks. Here’s me looking awkward next to Kojima-san:
— Ed Nightingale (@ednights.bsky.social) 2025-04-22T10:03:02.321Z
Editor Marcus Stewart is playing Death Stranding 2 at Kojima Productions in Tokyo this week! Stay tuned for our full preview of the game on May 8.
— Game Informer (@gameinformer.com) 2025-04-22T11:28:32.928Z
I’m in Japan playing Death Stranding 2 all week at Kojima Productions. Look out for coverage starting May 8th!
— Blessing Adeoye Jr. (@blessingjr.bsky.social) 2025-04-22T10:01:53.570Z