When Death Stranding 2: On the Beach arrived exclusively on PS5, it didn’t just bring back our delivery boy Sam Bridges, but also the age-old platform debate. PC players were hopeful, Xbox fans were curious, and Game Pass subscribers were… well, crossing their fingers. So, where does Kojima’s latest strand-type journey stand in the big release strategy?
Right now, Death Stranding 2 is a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Sony Interactive Entertainment is publishing the game, and no other platforms are supported at launch, not even PS4 due to high-end game demands that the old Sony console can’t handle. Kojima’s sequel was built with PS5’s horsepower in mind, so visual fidelity, loading speed, and environmental detail push past what PS4 could decently handle. And unlike some first-party PlayStation games that bridge generations, DS2 never even flirted with the idea of a PS4 version.
Will Death Stranding 2 Come to PC?
While nothing’s official yet, a Death Stranding 2 PC release is very much possible, if history repeats itself. Death Stranding 1 launched on PS4 in November 2019, arrived on PC through Steam and Epic Games Store by July 2020, and a Director’s Cut followed later on PC in 2022.
To look at the pattern, Sony published it on console, but 505 Games stepped in for the PC port, acting as the third-party publisher once Sony’s exclusivity window closed. That move turned out successful enough to set a new precedent for Kojima Productions’ IP. Kojima owns the Death Stranding IP, so that means once Sony’s exclusivity agreement ends (likely after 6 to 12 months), a PC port should be licensed out again, presumably to 505 Games.
The earliest estimates hover around early to mid-2026, based on the 8–9 month delay seen with the first game. Some even speculate it could take longer as Kojima Productions has other in-development projects (Overdose) under its belt, and how long Sony holds marketing/publishing rights. If it happens, expect a PC version to be bundled with some new content or quality-of-life upgrades—possibly branded as a “Director’s Cut” again.
Is Death Stranding 2 Coming to Xbox?
Maybe, but not any time soon. The first Death Stranding made it to Xbox but not until five years after its original release as the Director’s Cut. That late arrival was only possible thanks to Kojima Productions owning the IP and 505 Games pushing through the licensing procedure. It can be the case again but only:
- After the PlayStation exclusivity window ends,
- If Sony has no objection,
- And if Kojima finds it worthwhile from a business standpoint.
Right now, there are no confirmed plans for an Xbox port, and no concrete industry whispers suggesting it’s in early development either. But the first game did set a precedent that can’t be ignored entirely. While Kojima is also developing OD exclusively for Xbox (in collaboration with Xbox Game Studios and Jordan Peele), that project is entirely separate and doesn’t signal Death Stranding 2’s release to Microsoft’s console ecosystem.
- Read more: Is Lou Dead in Death Stranding 2?
Will Death Stranding 2 Come to Game Pass?
Game Pass is a long shot for Death Stranding 2—at least for the foreseeable future. The original game did make its way to PC Game Pass, not Xbox Game Pass, and even that was a surprise move. It happened in 2022, three years after launch, and only because the PC version was handled by 505 Games, not Sony.
So, unless Death Stranding 2 gets a PC port published by a third party and Sony signs off on the licensing, it’s safe to say you won’t see it on Game Pass anytime soon. It’s clear much of Death Stranding 2’s platform future rests on publishing rights. Kojima owns the IP, but Sony owns publishing control on PS5.
For the game to spread its wings to other platforms, Kojima Productions would need to negotiate with Sony, a third-party publisher like 505 Games would likely need to get involved again, and technical optimization for PC and Xbox hardware would have to follow. None of this is impossible, but it’s all subject to corporate decisions, and those don’t move fast.
