For Kojima, those experiences led to a different approach for the sequel. His own sense of isolation that arose from having to develop Death Stranding 2 with a remote team saw him reconsidering its tale — yet it’s also this isolation that led to Kojima realizing the perils of digital connectivity.

On the Beach is properly out in the wild, but there were times when even director Hideo Kojima thought he wouldn't be able to finish making the open-world blockbuster. "Death Stranding 2 is out now," the Metal Gear Solid auteur wrote in a heartfelt social media post,

Death Stranding 2 is so much more than a retread of the first game — and it might be Hideo Kojima's best game yet.