Hideo Kojima Spills Secrets: Why Death Stranding 2’s Launch Moved to June!

In a recent installment of Hideo Kojima’s KOJI10 radio podcast (Episode 16), the acclaimed game creator disclosed the reasons behind the June release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. He elaborated on the multiple elements that influence the timing of a game’s debut.

During this latest episode of the TBS radio series, launched last October, Kojima and his guests discussed the theme of socializing in an izakaya (Japanese bar). Despite admitting early on that he rarely consumes alcohol or experiences drunkenness, the idea of an inebriated Kojima prompted a listener to ask, “Since you might be more open as a drunk director… (Kojima: ‘I’m not drunk!’) did you have any specific preferences for when Death Stranding 2 should launch? Why choose June instead of September?”

Kojima initially clarified that the release timing isn’t solely up to his discretion. Once the game’s development commences, its release schedule and budget are predetermined. The release windows of other games also significantly affect these decisions.

“For instance, Sony has a lineup of various games,” Kojima stated. “So, we must avoid releasing our game too close to these other titles, similar to how movies are scheduled. The decision regarding Death Stranding 2’s release date was made quite some time ago.”

Death Stranding 2, developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony, is positioned in a crowded market. Although Kojima did not mention specific competing titles, a look at the announced release dates for upcoming PS5 games suggests that a September release would have resulted in clashes. For instance, the release of Ghost of Yotei, the follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima, is set for October 2, and is a major release from Sony. Other notable launches include Konami’s Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater on August 28, a remake that could have conflicted with Death Stranding 2 in September. Gearbox’s Borderlands 4 also had its release moved up to September 12 from the originally planned date of September 23.

“Typically, games perform well in the Western market during October and November, and I would have preferred to launch (Death Stranding 2) around then,” Kojima mentioned. He noted that many of his previous games were released in November, such as the North American launches of MGS2 and MGS3. However, due to the heavy competition expected this year, June was chosen to avoid conflicts.

“The decision for June was made quite early during the scheduling process. Any delay in this timeline could lead to problematic clashes with other game releases,” Kojima explained, emphasizing the importance of sticking to the planned schedule.

Kojima also illustrated how an unexpected announcement, like one for GTA 6 in November, could force many developers to reshuffle their release dates to avoid direct competition. He added that “a game might take around two months for a player to complete,” which is another factor considered when planning game releases.

Indeed, game producers sometimes have to adjust their release dates abruptly to dodge such overlaps. For instance, this year, Sega launched Like A Dragon: Pirates in Hawaii one week earlier than planned to avoid clashing with Monster Hunter Wilds.

Kojima identified May/June and September/October/November as favorable periods for game releases. However, he also stressed the importance of aligning game promotions with these dates since marketing costs are difficult to recover if the game faces delays.

For launching a brand-new IP, Kojima suggested February as a viable option, assuming there are no major competitors like Monster Hunter World to contend with, as this period generally faces less competition for advertising.

More insights and exclusive content on Death Stranding 2, including an interview with Hideo Kojima and our first impressions after 30 hours of gameplay, are available.

Verity Townsend, based in Japan, is a freelance writer who has previously worked as an editor, contributor, and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also penned articles on Japanese culture and cinema for various outlets.