Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Game Premiere Showcases First Live Gameplay Demo, Kicks Off World Tour
Kojima Productions took center stage at one of the closing highlights of Summer Game Fest 2025 with a dedicated Death Stranding 2: On the Beach “Game Premiere” event, hosted by Geoff Keighley. The panel featured renowned figures including Hideo Kojima, Shioli Kutsuna, Troy Baker, and Woodkid, offering an intimate look into the development and creative vision behind the upcoming title, set to launch on June 26, 2025 exclusively for PlayStation 5.
A Rare Live Gameplay Reveal in the Digital Era
Among the panel’s most exciting segments was a live gameplay demo — a rarity in the modern age of pre-recorded presentations. The demonstration offered a real-time look at exploration, combat, and environmental storytelling in the desolate yet hauntingly beautiful world of Death Stranding 2. Despite previously released trailers offering glimpses into the gameplay mechanics and narrative, this hands-on showcase provided fans with a more grounded impression of what to expect later this month.
Behind the Scenes with Kojima, Cast & Composer
The event wasn’t limited to gameplay alone. Composer Woodkid elaborated on his process of crafting music that reflects both the emotional intensity and thematic gravity of the game, highlighting how integral sound design is to the immersive experience. Meanwhile, actors Troy Baker and Shioli Kutsuna delved into their character journeys and shared personal anecdotes about working with Kojima. The conversation was interspersed with new, unreleased cutscene clips that subtly expanded on the game's mysterious story without spoiling key moments.
Kojima himself remained cautious about revealing too much ahead of launch, focusing instead on thematic hints and artistic motivations, echoing the creative secrecy and excitement that have long defined his work.
The Beginning of a Global Strand Tour
This premiere also marked the kickoff of the “World Strand Tour 2,” a global celebration leading up to and following the game’s release. The tour will travel to Australia, Japan, France, England, Korea, Taiwan, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Italy between now and November 2025. While specific dates and formats for each location are still forthcoming, the premiere event likely sets a precedent for the type of behind-the-scenes access and exclusive content fans can expect on the tour.
As the countdown to Death Stranding 2: On the Beach continues, this panel provided not only a deeper understanding of the project’s scope but also an emotional connection to the world and the people bringing it to life. With just a few weeks to go before release, anticipation is at an all-time high.
What are you most excited to explore in Death Stranding 2? Is the return of live gameplay demos a trend you’d like to see more of? Let us know in the comments.
