Look, let's be real for a second. I'm that player who never truly 'got' Death Stranding. I know, I know, I'm a special unique snowflake and all that jazz. But here's the tea ☕️: there's a weird, undeniable magnetism to Hideo Kojima's brainchild that keeps pulling me back. It's like that one indie band everyone hypes up—you don't quite vibe with the music, but you can't stop listening. Fast forward to 2026, and with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach finally here, I'm ready to dive back into the beautifully bizarre world of chiral networks and existential dread. Spoiler alert: I might not finish it, I might not like it, I might not understand a single plot point... but I will start it. That's the deal.

The Story? It's Clearer Now... Kinda

Remember those early trailers? All submarines diving through oil, weird Alan Wake lookalike puppets 🪀, and Elle Fanning cameos that left us all scratching our heads? For a hot minute, it felt like DS2 was gonna be a whole different beast, far removed from the first game's wonky delivery simulator vibes. Part of me was lowkey excited for a fresh start—maybe this would be the one that finally clicks! But another part was like, 'Hold up, more mechanics as metaphors to stumble through? My fragile gamer heart can't take it.'

But then, the final pre-release trailer dropped, and everything changed. Or, more accurately, didn't change. And that's the comfort zone.

The Gameplay Loop: Walking Simulator 2.0?

Here's the real talk. The earlier marketing was all about the Kojima Flair™:

• Celebrity cameos out the wazoo 🎬

• Lines that sound cool in isolation but make zero narrative sense

• Babies and birth canal imagery (because of course)

• That signature emo eye makeup everywhere

But what was missing? The actual gameplay. We got flashes, sure, but nothing that answered the core question: 'What will I be doing for 50+ hours?' It was a lot of watching, pointing at the screen going 'Hey, look, it's [Insert Famous Actor Here]!', and then spending hours on forums pretending to understand the lore.

This new trailer, though? It gave us the answer. And the answer is... more walking. Glorious, tedious, beautiful walking.

What We Now Know We'll Be Doing:

1. The Walk: Sam Porter Bridges is back on his feet, traversing uneven terrain with the horizon stretching endlessly. No boxes stacked to the sky (yet), but the spirit is there.

2. The Solitude: It's just you, the sunset, and your own rapidly unfurling thoughts. Peak Death Stranding mood.

3. The 'Not-Challenge': The game won't be 'hard' in a Souls-like way. It'll be hard like trying not to blink for a full minute. It's a test of patience, not reflexes.

Why I'm Weirdly Hyped to Not Enjoy Myself

Knowing that Death Stranding 2 is just More Death Stranding is weirdly liberating. I can go in with zero illusions. The checklist is prepared:

It's like preparing for a marathon you know you'll walk most of. The achievement isn't in the speed; it's in the completion. Death Stranding was never about fun in the traditional sense. It was an experience, a vibe, a mood. And the sequel seems to double down on that.

The Cycle Continues: A Gamer's Confession

Let's keep it 100. This is a pattern for me:

• Tears of the Kingdom? Fell off after Breath of the Wild.

• Elden Ring? Don't vibe with Souls games, but had to try.

• Monster Hunter Wilds? Gave up on World and Rise, but back in the saddle.

• Death Stranding 2? Here we go again.

I'm a glutton for punishment, or maybe just hopeful that this time, the magic will spark. The jury's still out on if Wilds will stick, but for DS2, my expectations are managed. If all else fails, I'll get to point at my screen and say, 'Hey look, it's Elle Fanning!' and honestly? I get the sense Kojima would be perfectly happy if that was everyone's main takeaway. Mission accomplished, you beautiful, chaotic genius. 🙌

So here's to June 2026. Here's to not blinking. Here's to the long, lonely walks and the confusing, beautiful nonsense. I'm ready to not get it, all over again. And maybe, just maybe, that's the whole point.