The developer's self-referential Easter eggs in Death Stranding 2 might elicit some cringes. Discover the story behind these hidden details and see how the sequel transforms the main characters' world.
Easter Eggs and Story Evolution in Death Stranding 2
Kojima's Personal Easter Eggs Might Be Cringeworthy
Packed with surprise cameos and hidden details, Death Stranding 2 features several self-inserts by Director Hideo Kojima that some may find awkward. In a June 26 interview with GameSpark, Kojima admitted his staff was initially very reluctant about including them.
As the series creator, Kojima's influence is felt throughout DS2, even extending to cameos like his favorite VTuber, Usada Pekora, appearing as a Prepper. He also incorporated other personal references, which he acknowledges might make players cringe.
Kojima has a history of weaving himself into his games. He appeared multiple times in the Metal Gear series—as a "ghost" in Metal Gear Solid, a portrait in The Twin Snakes, an operative in Ground Zeroes, and more.
For DS2, he requested his team add these personal Easter eggs, often meeting their joking responses of, "Huh?" as if they hadn't heard him correctly. Kojima also hinted (via machine translation), "If you look up at the night sky from the hot spring, you'll see a beautiful view. Zoom in there, and various things will appear, so please try it out."
Within the first week of release, fans have already spotted numerous celebrity cameos beyond the main cast, including Ghost in the Shell's Mamoru Oshii as The Pizza Chef and Train to Busan's Ma Dong-seok as Samson Hook. Kojima likely has more hidden surprises, so players should watch for these potentially cringey finds.
Portraying "Loneliness Within a Community"
Beyond cameos and Easter eggs, DS2 introduces a new narrative shaped by protagonist Sam Porter Bridges' changed circumstances. Unlike his largely solitary journey in the first game, Sam now has a home base—the mothership "Magellan." Kojima states this allows for more character interactions and deeper relationship-building.
He noted that technical limits in the first Death Stranding restricted scenes to 3-4 characters in a room. The sequel expands this to 5-6, enabling more dramatic storytelling.
"Having a home and a diverse cast brings complex human relationships to the forefront. I'm attempting to portray a new form of 'loneliness' that emerges within a group, through conflicts and disagreements," Kojima explained.
Final Launch Day Trailer for Death Stranding 2
To celebrate the game's June 26 launch, PlayStation released a final trailer offering an overview of the experience. It opens with an interaction between Sam and BB-28 set to the classic tune "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head."
The trailer highlights the game's narrative and varied gameplay, emphasizing its diversity and Kojima's signature eccentric style. It also showcases the star-studded cast, including Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, Elle Fanning, Troy Baker, and Luca Marinelli, among others.
Despite Kojima's earlier concerns about the game's positive reviews and finding it "too mainstream," he expressed great happiness with DS2's launch. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is available now on PlayStation 5. For the latest updates, check our dedicated article below!
