On November 8, 2019, Death Stranding was released on PlayStation 4 — the first game from the new Kojima Productions studio, created by Hideo Kojima after his departure from Konami. The project immediately attracted enormous attention thanks to its mysterious trailers, unusual concept, and star-studded cast.
The game became one of the most unconventional major projects of its generation. Instead of the usual focus on combat, Death Stranding made traveling, delivering cargo, and restoring connections between people the central parts of the experience.
Kojima's departure and the creation of Kojima Productions
The story of Death Stranding began after one of the most high-profile splits in the industry. Hideo Kojima worked at Konami for many years and was the main creative force behind the Metal Gear series. However, in 2015, the collaboration between the developer and publisher came to an end.
In December of the same year, Kojima officially founded the independent Kojima Productions. The studio reached an agreement with Sony Interactive Entertainment to create its first game for PlayStation 4.
The new team's first project was named Death Stranding. It was officially presented at E3 2016. The first trailer immediately generated enormous interest, although very little was known about the game itself at that time.
Kojima gradually revealed details about the project through new trailers. Particular attention was drawn to actors Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, and other well-known cast members.
The world after Death Stranding
The events of the game take place in the United States after a catastrophic event known as Death Stranding. Human society has essentially collapsed, cities are isolated from one another, and dangerous phenomena have made traveling extremely difficult.
The player takes on the role of Sam Porter Bridges, a courier who transports cargo between isolated settlements. His main goal is not simply to deliver packages, but to help restore the connection between the divided parts of society.
This idea became the foundation of the entire game. Kojima called Death Stranding a new type of game built around the concept of “connection.” Players not only interact with characters but also leave objects and assistance behind that others can use.
The game where connections became the main weapon
One of the most unusual features of Death Stranding was the process of traveling through its world itself.
Sam has to plan routes, maintain his balance, properly distribute cargo, and use various equipment. Terrain, rivers, mountains, and other obstacles turn an ordinary journey into a challenge of its own.
At the same time, players can build roads, bridges, shelters, and other structures that other users can later use. In return, they can receive structures already created by other players or items they have left behind.
This asynchronous interaction became one of the main ideas of Death Stranding. A player may hardly meet other people directly, but can constantly feel the presence of the community.
Release and reception
Death Stranding was released on November 8, 2019 for PlayStation 4. The game immediately became the subject of widespread discussion because of its unusual structure and pacing.
Critics generally rated the project positively, but the reaction was far from unanimous. On Metacritic, the game received 82 out of 100 based on critic reviews. Some journalists praised its originality, atmosphere, visuals, and idea of asynchronous interaction, while others criticized its slow pace and large number of deliveries.
That is why Death Stranding became a game that was difficult to evaluate by traditional criteria. For some, it was an extremely unusual and atmospheric experience, while for others, it was too slow and overloaded.
Awards and success
Despite the mixed reaction, Death Stranding received numerous awards. At The Game Awards 2019, Kojima Productions won three awards.
The game also received the Award for Excellence at the Japan Game Awards 2020.
From a commercial perspective, the project also demonstrated a successful result. In March 2021, Kojima Productions announced that Death Stranding had sold more than 5 million copies on PlayStation 4 and PC. By November 2022, the number of players who had joined the game's world on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC exceeded 10 million.
The legacy of Death Stranding
In 2021, the game received an expanded edition, Death Stranding Director's Cut, for PlayStation 5, and it was later released on PC as well. The edition added new content, missions, traversal options, and other improvements.
Death Stranding also became the beginning of a new franchise for Kojima Productions. In 2025, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was released, continuing the story of the original game.
Death Stranding itself left a noticeable mark on the industry precisely because of its willingness to experiment with the formula of a major AAA project. The game made cargo delivery, overcoming obstacles, and helping other players central elements of the experience rather than secondary mechanics.
Seven years after the creation of Kojima Productions, Death Stranding remains one of the best-known examples of how an author's vision can completely change the conventional idea of what a major video game should be.
As a reminder, Gears of War — the story of the game that changed console shooters.