Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is Seemingly in the Crunch Phase

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to share that the creative process for “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” appears to be at its critical, high-intensity stage – often referred to as the crunch phase. The esteemed game designer, Hideo Kojima, recently shared insights on a popular social media platform about how this intense development period is currently underway for our eagerly anticipated sequel.

In his recent post, Kojima describes the game’s development as both physically and mentally challenging, labeling it as a critical, crunch period. Furthermore, he notes that at present, Kojima Productions is juggling various tasks, from editing Japanese voiceovers to arranging interviews, discussions, essays, and even non-game related assignments.

Kojima mentioned that the most challenging phase in game development, often referred to as “crunch time,” is both physically and mentally taxing. In addition to mixing sounds and recording Japanese voices, there’s a stack of other duties such as commenting, explaining, writing essays, giving interviews, having discussions, and handling non-game work. It’s incredibly hard.

The video game creation field isn’t new to the idea of ‘crunch periods,’ where many big-budget games have required their creators to work excess hours to meet deadlines. However, these crunch periods are frequently criticized because they can compel developers to neglect important parts of their lives, leading some to experience burnout and eventually exit the industry entirely.

Even though we’re not fully aware of the specifics regarding the creation and manufacturing of “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”, Kojima disclosed back in May 2024 that the filming and recording for the game have been completed. At present, it seems the project is moving into its fine-tuning stage.

Back in September, Kojima Production unveiled the Japanese voice actors for “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.” Notable returning cast members include Kenjiro Tsuda who will reprise his role as Sam Porter Bridges from the original game. Additionally, Nana Mizuki has been confirmed to play Fragile, and Satoshi Mikami will portray Higgs in the upcoming sequel.

In the Japanese version of the game, you’ll find three new voice actors: Tomokazu Sugita playing Dollman, Mitsuru Miyamoto voicing Tarman, and Shion Wakayama portraying Tomorrow.

Based on the scant information disclosed by Kojima Productions about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, it appears that the sequel could be more rugged than its forerunner. Notably, this upcoming game seems to incorporate a dance event within the game itself, centered around Dollman. Additionally, the game introduces several fresh characters, as evidenced by the trailer which showcases Dollman, Tomorrow, Rainy, and Tarman.

Title Unveiled: Death Stranding 2: On the Shoreline

Although an official launch date for Death Stranding 2: On the Shoreline remains undetermined, it’s anticipated to debut in 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5. For those eagerly awaiting updates about this sequel to Death Stranding, here are 10 fresh insights into the game. To alleviate any concerns regarding prior knowledge of the original, Death Stranding 2: On the Shoreline will also encompass a synopsis of the initial game, ensuring newcomers can quickly get up-to-speed.

It’s anticipated that the launch date for “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” will be unveiled sometime in the current year, possibly during one of the major gaming conventions.

The toughest phase in game creation, often referred to as “crunch period,” is the one that tests both physical and mental endurance. This includes tasks such as audio mixing and voice recording (including Japanese voices), as well as a mountain of other duties: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and more.

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) January 10, 2025

2025-01-13 18:41

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