The Complete Death Stranding Universe Guide — Games, Anime, and Movie

The Death Stranding franchise is expanding fast. Between the games, an upcoming anime, a live-action movie, and a world concert tour, there's a lot to track. Here's the full picture.

The Games

Death Stranding (2019)

The original. Hideo Kojima's first game after leaving Konami. You play as Sam Porter Bridges, reconnecting isolated cities across a post-apocalyptic America devastated by the Death Stranding — an event that blurred the boundary between the living and the dead.

• Platforms: PS4, PS5 (Director's Cut), PC
• Metacritic: 82 (PS4), 85 (Director's Cut)
• Play time: 40-60 hours

The Director's Cut (2021) added new story missions, weapons, a racing mode, and quality-of-life improvements. It's the definitive version.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (2025/2026)

The sequel, set eleven months later. Sam is recruited by Fragile's new company Drawbridge to extend the chiral network to Mexico, while transcontinental portals begin connecting Mexico to Australia.

• PS5: Released June 26, 2025
• PC: Releasing March 19, 2026 (Steam, Epic Games Store)
• Metacritic: 90

Features two open worlds (Mexico and Australia), the Route Simulator planning tool, real-time terrain changes, improved combat, and new asynchronous online features.

Cast: Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, Troy Baker, Elle Fanning, Shioli Kutsuna, plus director cameos from George Miller, Guillermo del Toro, and Nicolas Winding Refn.

The Anime

Death Stranding Isolations (Disney+, 2027)

Announced November 13, 2025, this is a completely original story set in the Death Stranding universe — not an adaptation of either game.

Key details:

• Animation studio: E&H Production (Ninja Kamui, One Piece: Monsters)
• Director: Takayuki Sano (key animator on Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen)
• Character designer: Ilya Kuvshinov (Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045)
• Executive producer: Hideo Kojima
• Art style: Traditional hand-drawn 2D animation

The story follows a young man and woman on an adventure, an old man seeking salvation outside BRIDGES' ideology, a female warrior promoting conflict, a boy with a grudge against BRIDGES, and a girl who embraces loneliness. Set in North America.

The Movie

Death Stranding (A24)

Announced April 2025, the live-action film is produced by A24 and Kojima Productions. Director Michael Sarnoski (A Quiet Place: Day One) will write and direct.

The film tells a completely new story in the Death Stranding universe with characters not seen in the games. Kojima is supervising the plot but not directing — he has three active projects.

No release date announced yet.

The Music

Strands of Harmony World Concert Tour

The first official Death Stranding concert tour features orchestral performances of music from both games. Songs by Low Roar, Woodkid, and Ludvig Forssell are performed live, with composer Forssell and singer Jenny Plant appearing as guest performers at select dates.

The tour has been running through 2025-2026 at venues worldwide.

Soundtracks

• Death Stranding 2: Original Score by Ludvig Forssell (Milan Records)
• Songs from the Video Game — 22 tracks from Low Roar, Caroline Polachek, CHVRCHES, Gen Hoshino, Silent Poets, and more
• Woodkid contributed a dedicated companion soundtrack
• Physical vinyl releases available from Mondo and Black Screen Records

Kojima Productions Studio Updates

At the studio's 10th anniversary event (Beyond the Strand, September 23, 2025), Kojima announced:

• OD — A horror game for Xbox with Sophia Lillis, Udo Kier, Hunter Schafer, and Jordan Peele as co-writer
• PHYSINT — A stealth-action game described as a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, targeting ~2030
• Niantic partnership — An AR experience described as "Death Stranding in the real world"

For 2026, Kojima described it as the studio's "Second Phase" — focused on laying foundations rather than the globe-trotting of 2025.

Where to Start

If you're brand new: Play Death Stranding Director's Cut first. DS2 assumes familiarity with the original's characters and world. The Director's Cut is available on PS5, PC, and is regularly on sale.

If you've played the original: Jump straight into DS2. The PC version launches March 19 with ultrawide support, unlocked framerates, and modern upscaling.

If you just want the story: The anime (Isolations) and movie are both standalone stories in the same universe — no game knowledge required.

The Death Stranding universe is growing, and every new entry offers a different way in. Whether you're a porter veteran or completely new to the franchise, 2026 is a great time to connect.