Death Stranding 2 playtests are “positive,” but Kojima wishes it was “a bit more controversial”

Death Stranding 2 is one of the most exciting games of 2025, and its release date is set for June 26th. The original experience was a divisive journey as most opinions ranged from the extremes of it being either amazing or a boring walking simulator. Fortunately for both players and Sony, opinions from Death Stranding 2 playtests seem a lot more “positive,” however, Hideo Kojima wishes it was “a bit more controversial”.

Hideo Kojima says he wishes Death Stranding 2 was “a bit more controversial” after “positive” playtests

Hideo Kojima conducted an interview for the latest issue of EDGE magazine to promote the upcoming release of Death Stranding 2. During the interview, the game director revealed that, “with the playtests for Death Standing 2: On the Beach, everyone seems to be positive”. This a stark contrast to playtests for the original Death Stranding where Kojima found “that four out of ten people would love the game, but six would say it was a terrible game”.

Kojima acknowledged that “Sony is pleased” with the positive feedback. However, he added, “but I do wish I was a bit more controversial”. The mastermind director said, “Blockbuster films need an 80 percent approval rating – I don’t want to make games like that. I’m not interested in appealing to the mass market, or selling millions of copies…  That’s not what I’m aiming for”.

While confessing he is “not interested in making something that appeals to everyone,” Kojima admitted, “Of course, I can’t afford to make a failure, either. I must take care of my studio, my staff, and our production budget”.

Kojima’s aim with Death Stranding 2 and all other projects is to “make something new” rather than “simply recreate something that’s already in the world”. Interview quotes come courtesy of VGC.

The release date for Death Stranding 2 is June 26th. The game will have a recap to help newcomers who didn’t play DS1, and, even though the sequel hasn’t come out yet, Kojima has said he has a great idea for Death Stranding 3, but someone else will need to make it.

In other PlayStation news, the release date for Ghost of Yotei is confirmed, and Sony are considering even more PS5 price increases in response to US tariffs.