Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Director Explains Addition of Day/Night Cycle

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Title Change for “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”: Golden Sands Unveiled

After comprehensive previews from media outlets showcasing its innovative mechanics, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has reached the gold master stage. One intriguing enhancement that has caught players’ attention is the day/night cycle feature, which significantly enhances the visual appeal of exploration, while also offering strategic gameplay benefits.

In simpler terms, moving stealthily is more convenient during nighttime, but poor vision might complicate travel. Given that Death Stranding emphasizes careful exploration of landscapes, this new feature presents unique difficulties. However, you might wonder why director Hideo Kojima decided to incorporate a day/night cycle when it wasn’t present in the initial game?

In an interview with IGN, Kojima shared that they incorporated the passage of time in an open world setting for the first time in “Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain,” and this feature was something he felt was missing from the original game. Previously limited due to technical constraints, players can now observe the sunrise and sunset by looking up at the sky in the sequel.

Kojima points out that initially, night-time sequences were excessively dim, leading to numerous adjustments in lighting. Additionally, cutscenes alter their illumination based on the time of day. Constructing a game capable of handling such variations wasn’t straightforward.

Sometimes I’d love to incorporate cinematic backlighting in specific game scenes, as one does in films. However, remember that this is a game, not a movie, so the visual experience will vary depending on the player. Ideally, I’d prefer some cutscenes to be played at night, but feel free to view them at different times of the day if that suits you better.

Luckily, unlike Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, you won’t need to linger and light up cigarettes to progress the time. Instead, gamers can retreat to a Personal Room and rest in bed. “We’ve even incorporated an option to rest and wait for morning before setting out. This feature is included because I assume there will be players who prefer not to travel during the night.

In “Metal Gear Solid 5”, there was a mechanic that allowed you to progress the game by smoking. However, this new game finds a more organic approach, such as returning to bed in a personal room after waking up just once.

In a sandy sequel titled “Death Stranding 2: By the Shore,” set to release on June 26th exclusively on PlayStation 5, delve deeper into the world of combat with an in-depth look at fresh boss battles and innovative weapons that protagonist Sam utilizes. To learn more about these exciting updates, click here!

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2025-05-12 12:18