How Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Ends and Potentially Sets Up Death Stranding 3

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After the excitement has died down and all rewards have been given, let’s delve into the narrative of Kojima Productions’ upcoming game, “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”. More precisely, we’ll be exploring the question that intrigues everyone when it comes to Hideo Kojima’s games – how does it end? Despite some unusual incidents and occurrences (Tommie Earl Jenkins, you deserve a round of applause), the storyline is more streamlined and moves at a faster pace compared to the initial “Death Stranding”. However, this doesn’t make it any less dramatic or filled with unexpected twists.

If you haven’t played the second installment of this game yet, be aware that there are significant plot revelations and the final outcome revealed ahead.

A significant portion of the story centers around Lou, also known as the Bridge Baby, whom Sam Porter Bridges adopted and named at the end of the first game. It’s been eleven months since the Last Standing was thwarted, an event where Sam’s adoptive sister Amelie, a being with Extinction powers, tried to extinguish all life as we know it. The world is far from stable, though. Timefall is still causing rapid aging and decay in everything it touches; the Beached Things (B.T.s) are still roaming freely, and have even evolved; and new natural disasters such as earthquakes, flash floods, and dust storms continue to add to the struggles of the remaining population.

In simpler terms, Sam and Lou, residents in the southernmost part of the United Central Authority (UCA), have been living off the grid. One day, Fragile, an acquaintance, visits Sam and discloses the establishment of a new company called Drawbridge. As it turns out, BRIDGES, previously in charge of package delivery across UCA, has been replaced by a new entity – the Automated Public Assistance Company (APAC). This new organization is responsible for transporting packages using automated robots through APAS.

Fragile is currently working with the UCA to set up the Chiral Network and wants Sam to cross into the remnants of Mexico to help out. The UCA guarantees that if they comply, Sam and Lou will be pardoned.

In this rephrased version: Fragile remains back to look after Lou as Sam embarks on a journey, dropping by to check in with Deadman, or at least listen to a message from him. This message provides some startling information. Initially, it’s disclosed that Deadman has moved on, transitioning to his Beach (don’t be alarmed, as he still exists in a different form). Secondly, Deadman discloses that Lou isn’t the actual BB-28. Instead, the serial number belongs to a decommissioned Bridge Baby. The origin and method of how Lou acquired this number are unclear, but it offers some comfort for Sam as it signifies that in the UCA, Lou doesn’t exist.

Finding comfort from this situation is fleeting as Sam discovers his hiding place was assaulted, with Fragile managing to escape, but Lou did not. A month later, Sam remains in a state of sadness over Lou’s death. Fragile reappears again, proposing that they board the DHV Magellan and explore a recently found plate gate. These unique portals have emerged following the failed Last Standing and serve as links between different regions across the world. One such gate is located in Mexico and connects to Australia, where other survivors are residing. Fragile aims to incorporate Australia into the Chiral Network, but the APAC’s President, who is also part of the journey, thinks they should activate additional plate gates globally.

The primary team members have been identified: Tarman, the one at the helm of our ship; Dollman, formerly a medium for spirits now confined within a puppet’s form; Heartman, who has returned; and Rainy, carrying a child yet capable of causing Timefall, but it transforms into Corefall near here, which reverses aging. Additionally, there’s Charlie – a crash-test dummy who supports Drawbridge financially.

When Sam travels to Australia, he runs into Higgs (a man who had previously attacked his home). Higgs, along with the newly introduced ghost mechs, captures Sam, but he’s ultimately rescued by the enigmatic Red Samurai. It turns out that the Red Samurai is Deadman, operating a sword-bearing mech from his coastal base, and he’s been aiding Sam whenever necessary. Additionally, there’s Neil – after defeating him for the first time in his domain, Sam meets another enigmatic girl.

Upon returning her to the Magellan, she was christened “Tomorrow,” and it was discovered she had no recollections whatsoever. If you guessed that the game’s slogan – “Tomorrow is in your hands” – could possibly be linked to Lou, then congratulations! You’ve earned a gold star.

It’s interesting to note that Neil was actually shielding Lucy from harm. Being a past associate of the UCA who smuggled women for their Bridge Baby projects, he shares a history as a childhood friend with Lucy Strand, Sam’s late wife. Their unborn child (initially named Louise) was the first Bridge Baby, BB-00, who was taken by BRIDGES for its experiments. It has now been discovered that Lucy didn’t take her own life – instead, she experienced disturbing dreams due to DOOMS during her pregnancy. After a vacation arranged by Bridget, Sam’s adoptive mother, Lucy gradually uncovered Bridget’s true identity and decided to flee with her daughter. Neil assisted in this escape attempt.

In the heat of the game, things took a turn for the worse when Bridget, my fellow gamer, ruthlessly eliminated Neil and Lucy, leaving poor Louise in their wake. Desperate to recover Lucy’s body, I encountered Bridget who spun a tale about her suicide. However, little did I know that Neil, now transformed into a B.T., would touch Lucy’s lifeless form, causing a Voidout. Overwhelmed by guilt, I abandoned BRIDGES and chose a life of seclusion, working as a freelance porter to find peace.

Upon coming back to the Beach, Neil maintained his individuality yet seemed like a spirit. Moreover, it’s revealed that Fragile initially leaped to the Beach and, thanks to Lou’s talents, she found Neil. Eventually, she placed her safety in Lou’s hands.

Toward the climax of the narrative, Drawbridge confronts Higgs in a bid to initiate the last Chiral Hub, linking Australia to the system. However, it is revealed that Higgs serves the President of APAC, who is not a single entity but a fusion of spirits from those lost during Voidouts, including the Elder from Death Stranding 1. Using APAS for his own survival, Higgs controls the spectral mechs and aims to halt human exploration, thereby preventing encounters with the Beached Things and safeguarding their existence.

Indeed, it’s none other than Die-Hardman who steps in, showcasing a stylish musical number that unveils him as Charlie (and interestingly, “Die-Hardman” also stands for “Die-Hardman’s Vessel”). He then intervenes to remove the President from APAS and foil his plans. Regrettably, the rest of the team didn’t factor in Higgs’ typical unpredictable behavior.

It’s clear that Higgs had devised his own strategy, and at some point, he assumed the identity of Deadman and took control over the Red Samurai. Waving the sword menacingly toward the crew, he disclosed his intentions to initiate the Last Stranding with Tomorrow – a recently discovered Extinction Entity. It’s also revealed that Tomorrow is none other than Sam’s daughter, after which they set off together.

In this version of events, Sam journeys to the beach for a confrontation with Higgs, aiming to prevent him from initiating the Last Stranding. As the battle ensues, an unexpected figure, Lou, appears and engulfs Higgs. It’s later disclosed that Fragile was slain by Higgs at the game’s start, but her spirit or Ka persevered, prolonging the lifespan of her body or Ha. Once she expired, Sam and the team re-enter reality, with Tomorrow uncovering the truth during their voyage.

Tomorrow, we’ll see an adult version of Louise, who has undergone accelerated aging while staying at Neil’s Beach. To clarify, Louise is the daughter of Sam and Lucy. She was taken by BRIDGES and transformed into BB-00. The image of Lou that appeared in Sam’s pod after her apparent demise was a hallucination created by Drawbridge to help Sam cope with his grief.

After the truth is unveiled, Tomorrow emotionally reconciles with Sam, acknowledging her as his daughter, and ultimately claiming her real name – Louise. After the closing credits, the camera sweeps across various Australian landscapes before focusing on Louise, dressed in a full porter outfit (including Fragile’s hand mask that lights cigarettes). She spends time reviewing photographs of her parents and Bridget from the initial game, Rainy with her child, and the crew of the DHV Magellan.

Next, she’s depicted standing before an unusual barrier resembling two intertwined hand shapes rather than the initial gate. These hands appear to be reaching towards each other, setting them apart from the one we saw earlier.

If Death Stranding 3 were to materialize, and Hideo Kojima has an idea for it, even if he doesn’t plan to develop it himself, there’s a strong chance that Louise will take the leading role. The concept of plate gates, as we’ve witnessed in the first game, allows for connection between various continents worldwide. In this potential sequel, this gate might extend beyond our planet, potentially transporting individuals to a new world or an even more distant location. Given Louise’s unique ability to navigate through tar (demonstrated when she eliminates a group of ghost mechs following her initial encounter with Sam), she could utilize plate gate travel in ways that no one else can.

Indeed, there are numerous unanswered queries. Has Louise retained her role as an Extinction Entity post the climactic battle, or has it completely reversed this ability? What about the Death Stranding and its ongoing impact on the world? Will the planet persistently be plagued by B.T.s and calamities due to excessive Chiralium? Is the cycle recurring, and what implications does this hold for Amelie, who prevented the Last Stranding to provide a chance for humankind? Despite the numerous answers provided in Death Stranding 2, there are still many thought-provoking questions that remain.

Regardless, Sam and Louise’s adventure concludes in a fulfilling way, offering additional insights into Lucy’s destiny and perhaps the demise of Higgs. We eagerly await to discover the direction the narrative takes next, if there is one, and ultimately, unveil more about what tomorrow may bring.

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2025-07-06 12:12