Hideo Kojima, the director of Death Stranding, has confirmed an anime adaptation of the game is currently in development. Discover his perspectives on video game adaptations and the latest promotional updates for Death Stranding 2.
Death Stranding Broadens Its Horizons
Anime Adaptation in Development
While a live-action Death Stranding film has been reported for some time, series creator Hideo Kojima has now confirmed an anime adaptation is also on the way. In a May 28 interview with Vogue Japan, Kojima discussed the upcoming film and offhandedly mentioned the anime project.
He expressed his belief that the distinction between video games and movies will eventually fade, which is a core objective for his company. Kojima explained, "If Kojima Productions' initial phase involved creating the 'DEATH STRANDING' IP and expanding it across multiple platforms, including a movie and a sequel, the second phase is dedicated to producing content where the lines between games and films become completely indistinguishable."
Regarding video game adaptations, he cited examples like "The Last of Us," which prioritizes fidelity to the source material, and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," which caters more to fans. Kojima acknowledged the value in both approaches but stated his ambition is to create a film worthy of awards at prestigious festivals like Cannes and Venice. He added, "In fact, we are currently developing an anime adaptation."
Although Kojima hinted at a potential anime to Variety back in September 2024, this marks the first official confirmation from Kojima Productions that the project is actively underway. No additional details have been provided at this time.
Hideo Kojima's Appearance at Summer Game Fest 2025
In related news, Summer Game Fest (SGF) announced via Twitter (X) on May 27 that Hideo Kojima will appear on stage on June 6 at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM GMT / 6:00 AM JST. The livestream will be available on SGF's official YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (X) channels.
Many anticipate the presentation will focus on the forthcoming release of Death Stranding 2 (DS2), though Kojima may also discuss other projects like OD and Physint. The promotion for DS2 appears to be intensifying, as evidenced by a recently released QR code designed to build excitement.
Prepper Awaiting Porter
On Reddit, fans have reported a new QR code launched by Kojima Productions that links to a video on the game's official website. User soldier_ibra suggested the studio initiated a Pocket Tissue campaign—a common Japanese marketing tactic where pocket tissue packs include a QR code for consumers to scan.
Kojima himself tweeted about the campaign on May 23 and was personally distributing these pocket tissues on the streets of Tokyo. The linked video, titled "Prepper Awaiting Porter," is a short, uneventful clip set inside a Prepper Shelter. Fans recognize this as classic Kojima marketing and expect more promotional content as the game's release approaches.
With the launch date drawing closer, Kojima is actively promoting the sequel to the critically acclaimed action-adventure title. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is scheduled for release on June 26, 2025, for PlayStation 5. For the latest news and updates on the game, check out our dedicated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!
