Death Stranding is the latest project from renowned video game author Hideo Kojima. The mastermind behind the Metal Gear franchise left Konami in 2015 under difficult circumstances, before reforming Kojima Productions as an independent company. What's interesting about Death Stranding is that no one seems to know exactly what it is, except Kojima of course. Although the game has been shown at various shows and expos since its initial unveiling exclusively on PlayStation at E3 2016, these demos and trailers have formed a series of seemingly unconnected panels. Babies in jars, dark creatures, undead soldiers, and Norman Reedus crossing snow-capped mountains? It's a little confusing. After months of speculation last week, we finally have a nine-minute long trailer that contains plenty of new Death Stranding clips, but still raises a lot of questions. Now we know that the game will be released on November 8, 2019, what are the actors and other complicated information about the plot, but here are some other questions that we would like to have answered before the release of the game.
What about babies?
I want my baby back... (Image credit: Kojima Productions) Since its initial release, this issue has been a concern for many people, and we still don't have a definitive answer just six months before release. Kojima said that "the baby is tied into the mechanics of the game as well as the overall story", and that Guillermo Del Toro saw it in a container and in Norman Reedus' esophagus. yes truly. Could it be as simple (and obscure) as the baby acting as a health bar? Or is it the cornerstone of the game's plot to jump between time zones, allowing our protagonist to jump between realities and dimensions? At this point, everyone is guessing, but we can't wait to find out.
Where will we travel in time?
We wouldn't be surprised if a DeLorean turned up at this stage (Image credit: Kojima Productions) One of the most exciting elements of Death Stranding's pre-post is the notion of time manipulation. One of the earlier trailers in the game illustrates a phenomenon called "time drop." Appearing as rain falls from another dimension, it can rapidly age people and other living organisms, making many assumptions: will we visit other times? Part of the trailer appears to show what looks like a WWI fight, but with strange inconsistencies that suggest all is not well in this scene (except the war, of course). Although this may be an extremely distant flashback, it seems unlikely. Will we see more periods explored and how will they connect to the open world of the game?
What is there to do in the open world?
The world of Death Stranding is beautiful, so we hope we get to explore it a bit (Image credit: Kojima Productions) Speaking of the open world of Death Stranding, Kojima has some experience in this area. Metal Gear Solid 5 may not have tied the story of this franchise in the way fans expect, but it has transposed the game's stealth-action gameplay style into an open world while also encouraging experimentation. With Death Stranding, it seems that Kojima Productions is pushing the limits of exploration. While the main character, Sam Bridges, is responsible for providing supplies, it seems hard to imagine that the entire game will be a straightforward quest. He looks forward to a fight against strange monsters called "Stranded Things," as well as the ability to explore mountains, canyons, and everything in between. It will be interesting to see how populated this area is, as the caravans have suggested not encountering many other characters. Death Stranding's sinister promise that "every death has a consequence" will probably save you a fight in one small part as well, so try not to kill every weary traveler you come across, okay?
What advantages will multiplayer offer?
Friends With Benefits (Image Credit: Kojima Productions) One of the most interesting themes (and there are many) in Death Stranding is Hideo Kojima's insistence that the game is multiplayer. Thanks to a recent press release, we have more details on how it works. Multiplayer will be asynchronous and will allow players to support each other by sharing supplies and pointing out safe areas. It's a far cry from Metal Gear Solid 5's player vs. player, but what really intrigues us is the potential for progression. Will sharing supplies benefit your campaign? Will "following in the footsteps of other messengers" (as stated in the press release) change the way the story unfolds? For a game with such lofty goals of bringing together a broken civilization that lives behind walls, it seems likely that this sharing of resources won't be limited to what Kojima Productions lets slip. I hope we know more before launch and that your friends list is full of generous players.
Will we see the release from one generation to the next?
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Death Stranding will release on PS4, but what about the PS5? (Image credit: Kojima Productions) Release-wise, it's no secret that we're nearing the twilight of the PlayStation 4's incredible life cycle. Sony is now discussing the next generation in all but name, which is incredibly Exciting but potentially a problem for a huge exclusivity like Death Stranding, which will be released towards the end of the machine's run. Sony is no stranger to releasing amazing swan songs. God Of War II was released on the PlayStation 2, while the PlayStation 3 was already released, and this console received The Last Of Us shortly before the release of the PlayStation 4. While all signs indicate that the next console will be compatible with PlayStation 4 games, will we see a brilliant and amazing "remaster" of the brand Death Stranding on the PlayStation 5? Who knows, but with the game being developed on the Decima Engine Guerilla, it seems likely that it will be scalable from one generation to the next.