Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has just been released, and as players begin to explore its vast new world, many are asking the same questions: How different is it from the first game? Do I need to have played the original? What new features can I expect? This guide answers the most common questions people are asking about Hideo Kojima’s ambitious sequel.

The Short Answer: What’s Different in Death Stranding 2?

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a direct sequel that significantly expands on the core “strand-game” formula. The key differences include new collaborative online mechanics where player actions collectively create permanent roads, new environments set in Mexico and Australia, dynamic environmental hazards like flash floods, and new traversal options like a monorail system for faster travel. While the core gameplay loop of making deliveries remains, the world itself is more dynamic and shaped by the entire player base.

New Gameplay Feature: Collaborative Road Building

One of the most fascinating returning features, now with greater emphasis, is how the player community collectively shapes the world. As detailed by players exploring the new regions, when enough players travel or drive over the same patch of wilderness, that desire path will eventually be paved over by the game’s systems, creating a permanent, shared road for all players in that world.

This emergent feature means the game world will physically evolve over time based on the most popular routes chosen by the community, turning player behavior into a permanent environmental feature.

New Environments and Hazards

The sequel moves beyond the North American setting of the first game, taking players to new, visually distinct open worlds based on Mexico and Australia. These new locations bring with them unique environmental challenges. One of the most talked-about new dangers are the sudden flash flood sequences, which can appear without warning and dramatically alter the landscape, washing away structures and creating treacherous new obstacles for Sam to navigate.

Do You Need to Play the First Death Stranding?

Yes, it is highly recommended. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a direct sequel that continues the story of Sam Porter Bridges and the other characters from the first game. While it’s possible to play it standalone, you will miss a massive amount of narrative context, character development, and the significance of world-changing events. The original game sets the stage for the entire universe, and its story is integral to the sequel.

What Platforms is Death Stranding 2 On?

At launch, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Similar to the first game, a PC port is widely expected to be released at a later date, but this has not yet been officially confirmed. For now, you will need a PS5 to play it.

Conclusion: An Evolved Formula

While Death Stranding 2 doesn’t reinvent its core identity, it builds upon it in significant ways. The introduction of new traversal methods, more dynamic and dangerous environments, and a deeper focus on collaborative world-building makes for a sequel that should feel both familiar to veterans and packed with new, surprising challenges.