Given just how much is going on in the initial trailer for Death Stranding 2, it is no surprise that a lot of players have missed out on this aspect of the reveal. Theorizing about Sam’s aged face or how Higgs managed to return is far more exciting than the question of why the game’s title is not yet official, but it is still an important question to ask. When the final title does come, it could reveal plenty about the plot.
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Potential Reasons Why Death Stranding 2 Still Has No Official Title
If players go to the official Kojima Productions YouTube channel to view Death Stranding 2’s trailer, they will find the phrase “working title” in the headline. This is an interesting distinction to make, as it suggests that Hideo Kojima does not yet have a name for his latest project. Considering that Kojima completely rewrote the script to avoid predicting the future - something his games have an odd habit of doing - the name Death Stranding 2 may not fit the new story.
The working title of DS2 suggests as much, with players believing that the abbreviation is meant to reflect that the story will be less focused on the Death Stranding event itself and will be more about the existing world and characters. Considering that Kojima is making sure to clarify that the DS2 abbreviation is not yet the final title for the game, though, it can be assumed that it will receive a change before release.
Outside of Kojima simply not having a title for the new entry in the Death Stranding series, he could be waiting until more has been revealed before he unveils the game’s name. After all, the subtitle could be a massive spoiler that gives away a surprising new game mechanic or plot point. If a future trailer highlights said story nugget or gameplay feature, Kojima could then reveal the proper name or subtitle for the sequel.
Considering the use of squids and hints at underwater exploration in Death Stranding 2’s reveal trailer - and the project Ocean code name that leaked a while back - exploring under the tar could be a legitimate possibility to consider. The ship that exits the water looks like it is the Death Stranding equivalent of Marvel’s helicarrier, as it boasts submarine and flight capabilities. Underwater exploration, deliveries, and combat would undoubtedly be an exciting reveal, so if the game is called something like Death Stranding 2: Ocean, sticking with a working title for the time being would make sense.
Hopefully, fans of Hideo Kojima’s work will not have to wait long for more info, as the PS5 exclusive made for a showstealing reveal during a Game Awards that was full of exciting announcements. With a Death Stranding movie also in the works, the future of the franchise is bright, and the potential for the second game to be a massive hit is easy to see. Based on the game’s cryptic reveal and its equally mysterious title situation, it seems likely that the same kinds of internet discussions that happened around the first game will occur once again.
Death Stranding 2 is currently in development for PS5.
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