Ever since Death Stranding was announced way back at E3 2016, speculation has been rife about the release date of Hideo Kojima’s latest bizarre, beautiful and thoroughly intriguing project. The clouds of uncertainty have finally been lifted and the game is officially set for a launch date of November 8, 2019. While we had been relying mostly on scraps of information in the form of trailers and gameplay footage to get a more complete picture of the game, the wait to actually experience has suddenly got a lot much shorter. Let’s see what all we know about Kojima’s next tour de force!
Facing an Apocalyptic Horror
The basic premise of Death Stranding reads as follows:
“In the near future, mysterious explosions have rocked the globe, setting off a series of supernatural events known as the Death Stranding. With otherworldly creatures plaguing the landscape, and mass extinction imminent, it’s up to Sam Porter Bridges to travel across the ravaged wasteland and save humanity from impending annihilation.”
According to Sony, the game’s objective is to indulge in a lot of world building with the aim to reunite a ravaged nation. This includes carrying along a huge amount of cargo, protecting your supplies from bandits, navigating your way around by building bridges, and saving yourself from weird monsters known as ‘Beached Things’.
Here is a more definite synopsis from Sony:
“Death Stranding is a completely new type of action game, where the goal of the player is to reconnect isolated cities and a fragmented society. It is created so that all elements, including the story and gameplay, are bound together by the theme of the ‘Strand’ or connection.
“As Sam Porter Bridges, you will attempt to bridge the divides in society, and in doing create new bonds or ‘Strands’ with other players around the globe. Through your experience playing the game, I hope you’ll come to understand the true importance of forging connections with others.”
Unique Approach to Death
In role-playing games, what usually happens when you die? The screen shows ‘Game over’ or ‘You are dead’. However, Death Stranding ain’t having any of that conventional stuff. When you die in the game, “you’ll find yourself in an upside-down realm, searching for a way back to the living.” In fact, the entire game encourages you to adopt a nonviolent approach, with the site specifically reading: “Choose your combat methods carefully, as killing your foe is almost never the solution — and every death carries a consequence”.
Asynchronous Multiplayer
Death Stranding isn’t going to have a multiplayer mode in the literal sense i.e. players connecting with each other directly. Instead, there will be asynchronous online gameplay, which sounds quite similar to what we have in the Souls series. There won’t be actual connections happening, but you will be able to share safe houses and send supplies to other players in a bid to ‘reunite civilization’.
Not a PS4 Exclusive?
A new interesting bit of information around Death Stranding is that the game might not be a PS4 exclusive, according to Italian journalist Antonio Fucito. While this is pure speculation right now, it is worth noting that Fucito had correctly leaked the game’s release date.
So maybe we could be looking at a May 2020 PC launch of Death Stranding! (please note, NOT Xbox).
Collector’s Edition and Preorder Guide
Death Stranding’s intriguing premise and the fact that it stars the likes of Norman Reedus, Guillermo del Toro, Lea Seydoux, and Mads Mikkelsen makes it a must-buy for the avid gamer. You can pre-order a copy right now! But what all goodies will you receive on a pre-order? Here is a lowdown of the same:
- Death Stranding PS4 Dynamic Theme
- PSN Avatar – Chibi Ludens
- Gold “Sam” Sunglasses
- Gold Armor Plate
- Gold Hat
- Gold Speed Skeleton
Note: You will have to unlock the special gold versions with the gameplay.
Order the Standard edition today! ($59.99)
- Buy it on Walmart
- Buy it on Amazon
- Buy it on the PlayStation Store
Order the Special Edition today! ($69.99)
This includes:
- Custom Steelbook Case
- Special Gold Version of “Ludens Mask” Sunglasses (must be earned in-game)
- Death Stranding: Timefall (Original Music from the World of Death Stranding) Digital Album
- Behind the Scenes Digital Video
Order the Digital Deluxe Edition today! ($79.99)
Get it on the PlayStation Store
Digital Items
- Complete Avatar Set – 10 avatars featuring various characters from the game
- Death Stranding: Timefall (Original Music from the World of Death Stranding) Digital Album
- Behind the Scenes Digital Video
Gold Versions of In-Game Items (must be earned through gameplay)
- Gold “Ludens Mask” Sunglasses
- Gold Power Skeleton
- Gold All-Terrain Skeleton
- Gold Armor Plate (Lv. 2)
Order the Collector’s Edition today! (if possible)
Priced at $199.99, the Collector’s edition has numerous physical and in-game items, making it indeed a worthwhile purchase, especially for the legion of the Kojima fans. However, they are selling out pretty quickly, so all the best if you manage to get hold of one!
Here is what all you get in the collector’s edition:
Physical Items
- Bridges Cargo Case
- Custom Steelbook Case
- Ludens Keychain
- Full-Sized BB Pod Statue
Digital Items
- Complete Avatar Set – 10 avatars featuring various characters from the game
- Death Stranding: Timefall (Original Music from the World of Death Stranding) Digital Album
- Behind the Scenes Digital Video
Gold Versions of In-Game Items (must be earned through gameplay)
- Gold Power Skeleton
- Gold Armor Plate (Lv. 2)
- Gold All-Terrain Skeleton
- Gold “Ludens Mask” Sunglasses
Death Stranding is touted to be the biggest game of 2019, riding on more than 3 years of hype and anticipation, and the enigma that is Hideo Kojima. While the spectral monsters add a significant horror element to the game, you can get more scares with these 10 Horror Games to Scare the Crap Out of You in 2019!