Hideo Kojima and his studio Kojima Productions are preparing to release Death Stranding 2: On The Beach on June 26 exclusively for PlayStation 5. Kojima, who is 61 years old, said in an interview with VGC that he has some ideas for a Death Stranding 3 but believes someone else would need to make it. While he didn't specify why he wouldn't be able to make it himself, there are a few obvious reasons why he might think that, outside of purely creative choices. Between a stacked schedule, how long games take to make, and his age, it makes sense that Kojima believes he won't be returning to the series. Here's why Kojima says he won't be making another entry in his weird Death Stranding series.

What is Kojima's Death Stranding 3 pitch?

Kojima didn't get too deep into specifics to avoid spoilers for Death Stranding 2

Hideo Kojima told VGC, "If I use this Plate Gate concept, I could make endless sequels! I, of course, don’t have any plans to do that, but I already have a concept for another sequel. I am not going to make it myself, but if I passed it on to someone else, they could probably make it."

Before diving into what all that means, Kojima told Famitsu (translated via Automaton Media) that Plate Gates are a special technology in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach that allows people to travel far distances quickly, in the case of the upcoming sequel, from America to Australia. With that understanding, it's clear that Kojima is alluding to the fact that they could go anywhere in the world going forward, so a Death Stranding 3 could take place in China or South America, basically anywhere on earth. That leaves several interesting options on the table, and Kojima likely has a bit more than just a new location up his sleeve.

Next Up Is Kojima's Xbox Horror Game OD

Kojima Productions next title was announced a while back for Xbox

Part of Kojima stating that he wouldn't be making a Death Stranding 3 likely has to do with Kojima Productions having a few more games already in the pipeline following Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. While Kojima Productions has not confirmed when any of its upcoming games will release, based on when the games were announced, it seems likely that OD is next.

What is OD? Nobody really knows, as there has been limited information about the game since it was announced. OD is a horror game of some type that Xbox Game Publishing is publishing, making it possible, but not likely, that it is an Xbox console exclusive. The game is being worked on by director Jordan Peele, although his exact contributions aren't clear yet. The game will feature three prominent actors, who all appeared in the teaser trailer. Those actors are Sophia Lillis (IT), Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), and Udo Kier, a prolific German actor. None of them have announced roles just yet, but considering the trailer is focused entirely on their faces, they should have prominent roles in the game.

Physint comes next, but that could be a PS6 game

Kojima returns to action-stealth with legally distinct Metal Gear

Kojima Productions has two games announced for release after Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, with the second being Physint. Physint is presumably after OD, since it was announced about a year-and-a-half afterward, but also because nothing from the game itself was actually shown. Instead, the announcement consists of Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation studios, and Kojima discussing Physint as an "action-espionage" game. If that sounds familiar, it's because it's heavily inspired by Metal Gear Solid, the series that put Kojima on the map.

Kojima confirmed that he started developing the game based on fan demand for a new Metal Gear (via Polygon), in addition to a health scare in 2020, which inspired him to start up a third project at Kojima Productions. He also described it as both a game and a movie, with the trailer showing the two creatives on the Sony Pictures movie lot. The game was also announced for the "PlayStation" with no number, implying this might not release during the PS5 generation.

Kojima could still make a Death Stranding 3 himself

As a fan of auteur filmmakers, Kojima retirement seems unlikely

Kojima described Death Stranding 2: On The Beach as his attempt to make a franchise after gaining his independence from Konami in that same Polygon piece. It seems unlikely that Kojima Productions would only make two entries in its new franchise, especially with the hype surrounding Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. The studio clearly feels comfortable working on three games at once, so it's entirely possible it starts making a third game before OD or Physint release. Considering Kojima is the director on all three projects, he clearly has no issue directing multiple projects at once, and he hasn't given the reins to someone else just yet.

Kojima is also a huge film nerd and loves auteur directors, with the likeness of George Miller and Guillermo del Toro appearing in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. Miller is 80 himself while del Toro is the same age as Kojima, and neither seems interested in retirement. Even Francis Ford Coppola, who is 86, put out Megalopolis last year. Prominent and respected artists have a real hard time retiring, and Kojima might be a similar person.

Another developer at Kojima Productions could direct Death Stranding 3

There is some wiggle room in Kojima's statement that could allow him to take a backseat on a Death Stranding 3. Kojima did not specify directing; he simply said he wouldn't make it, but another developer at Kojima Productions could take the reins while Kojima himself works on other games. It's hard to say for sure if that is a possibility, though, but it's unclear if Kojima would be willing for Kojima Productions to make a game he isn't directing. Regardless, it sounds like another Death Stranding game isn't coming anytime soon, if ever.