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Leave it to Hideo Kojima to get the entire video game industry talking about the photo mode of his upcoming title, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
A sequel to its debut game, Kojima Productions is pulling out all the stops to turn the follow-up into a truly unique gaming experience, as shown in its latest showcase at Tokyo Game Show 2024.
The highlight of the event was the game’s photo mode, which takes the familiar concept to unprecedented levels of realism. Death Stranding 2 doesn’t just let players have the in-game characters, which already boasted lifelike likenesses in earlier trailers, pose as static characters. Instead, the brainchild of the video game auteur sees the game bring the characters to life in a way that’s borderline unsettling in its authenticity.
In the demo footage, we’re treated to the protagonist, Sam Porter-Bridges (played by Norman Reedus), taking photos of, and with, other characters as they move, dance, and interact with their environment.
The astounding level of detail in these interactions shows the characters adopting natural poses and expressions that wouldn't look out of place in a real photoshoot.
Kojima then hinted that taking good photos might have some influence on the story, suggesting that there’s more to this feature than just a fun diversion.
The Tokyo Game Show presentation also introduced several new characters, expanding the already star-studded cast of Death Stranding 2. Elle Fanning joins the lineup as a character named Tomorrow, while Shioli Kutsuna and legendary film director George Miller take on the role of Rainy and Tarman respectively.
Near the end of the showcase, Kojima confirmed that the PlayStation exclusive will be released in 2025, but he refrained from announcing a specific date due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
