In just a few months, it will have been two whole years since Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding debuted on PS4. And while a PC version arrived in July last year, there hasn’t been much talk of new content or a PlayStation 5 version. Until now. Death Stranding: Director’s Cut was revealed at Summer Game Fest and came as a surprise to many. Sure – there have been rumblings of an improved PS5 edition. But that was mostly limited to online forums and little fuss was made by mainstream news outlets.
With the surprising reveal of Death Stranding: Director’s Cut came a VERY interesting teaser trailer. In typical Kojima fashion, many of us came away with more questions than answers. If you haven’t seen the Death Stranding: Director’s Cut trailer yet, check it out below. And get ready for a big nostalgia kick in the form of a cardboard box…
What does the Death Stranding: Director’s Cut trailer mean?
As you’d expect, the Death Stranding: Director’s Cut trailer has started the rumour mill turning. And because the Metal Gear Solid reference with the cardboard box couldn’t be anymore blatant, fans are asking what Kojima meant by it. Some are adamant that Sam placing the box back on the shelf is a metaphor for Kojima moving on. And that’s a fair and sensible assumption to make. Since his controversial and well-publicised falling out with MGS publisher Konami, Kojima has been mostly silent about the landmark stealth series. Given the apparent issues between the two parties, it would hardly be surprising if Kojima wanted to leave Metal Gear behind for good. Hell, he was hinting at ending the series as far back as 2004’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
But there is another theory. Look, we know for sure that Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is an “enhanced and expanded” version of the original game, optimised for the PS5. And the teaser trailer seemed to hint at a new type of mission, seemingly based around stealth and infiltration. The subterranean area showcased in the trailer screamed Shadow Moses (the setting of 1998’s Metal Gear Solid). So with that being said, could it be that Hideo Kojima actually wants to dedicate a portion of Director’s Cut to Metal Gear? It certainly isn’t that far-fetched of an idea.
Will Death Stranding: Director’s Cut include MGS-inspired missions?
It’s probably too early to answer this question with any degree of certainty, but it certainly seems possible. Surely they knew that even the slightest tease of anything MGS-related would send fans into a frenzy. So why would such an obvious reference be included? Maybe to precede the announcement and inclusion of stealth missions akin to Metal Gear. Because now it has been teased (at least in some fans’ eyes), there will inevitably be disappointment if Director’s Cut just features more of the same fetch and delivery quests.
It’s obvious to anyone who played Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain that Hideo Kojima had unfinished business with the series. The game launched in a technically sound yet unfinished state. It seemed that a lot of its story content had been cut, including the much rumoured MGSV Chapter 3. After Kojima was unceremoniously booted from the project right before its release, The Phantom Pain went on to receive critical acclaim. But it always felt like something was missing – almost as if MGSV didn’t have the Kojima stamp of approval. Perhaps this is how Hideo reclaims the Metal Gear franchise – by incorporating its best elements into Death Stranding.
What is Hideo Kojima’s next game?
What is Hideo Kojima working on now? Well, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut on PS5 is the answer. Kojima Productions have said they’ll have more to share about it in a few weeks. So we should know just how extensive this upgraded version is then.
What is Hideo Kojima’s next project, though? What comes after Death Stranding: Director’s Cut? Does this teaser trailer suggest that he’s somehow heading back to Metal Gear? The most likely answer is “No”. Although, a Metal Gear Solid remake has been rumoured for some time and this trailer has furthered that speculation. Kojima could be advising or assisting on the project in some capacity. Maybe Metal Gear Solid 6 is right around the corner and he’s involved with that? Who knows.
What’s a far more realistic guess is that a Hideo Kojima horror game will be next. Ever since the resounding success of P.T. and the shock cancelation of Silent Hills, fans have been beginning for him to try his hand at survival horror. Kojima himself stated in 2019 that he wants “to make the scariest horror game”. And he was talking with horror manga artist Junji Ito about a new horror game last year.
For now, fans will have to wait and see whether the teaser trailer is a positive sign for Metal Gear. And it’s unclear exactly how Death Stranding: Director’s Cut will be “enhanced and expanded”. We’re only a few weeks from finding out, though – but that’s plenty of time to speculate. Remember, only one thing is for sure when it comes to Hideo Kojima – expect the unexpected.
Are you excited for Death Stranding: Director’s Cut? What do you think the trailer means? Let us know in the comment section and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
