Hideo Kojima has unveiled the latest trailer for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. And while it provided a glimpse of gameplay and story, it left fans with a big question – is Lou dead in Death Stranding 2?
The reason for that is because Higgs Monaghan is shown to have survived the events of the first game. When he reappears, Sam (Norman Reedus) asks him: “Was it you, Higgs? Huh? Was it you that killed Lou?”
Higgs responds to Sam, “You still don’t know, do you?” The conversation abruptly ends when a cyborg ninja making baby sounds (yes, that’s what happened) attacks Higgs.
This leaves the question of what happened to Lou unanswered. With that being said, what do we know about Lou in Death Stranding 2 and is she dead?
Who is Lou?
Lou is short for Louise, which is the real name of BB-28 (commonly known as BB). BB (short for Bridge Baby) is the baby held in the orange pod that is equipped to Sam’s chest.
Bridge Babies “bridge” the gap between the world of the living and the dead in Death Stranding. This is what allows Sam to see otherworldly entities and enemies.
At the end of the first game, Sam is instructed to “destroy” BB-28 by taking it to an incinerator. Viewed as a piece of faulty equipment, this is standard practice with defective BBs in the world of Death Stranding.
However, Sam, having formed a deep bond with Lou, decided to remove her from the pod. The game ends with Lou surviving and Sam holding her as a rainbow forms.
Is Lou dead in Death Stranding 2?
While Lou was alive and well at the end of the first game, it appears something happened to her before the events of On The Beach.
This has led Sam to believe that Lou is dead. However, whether she is actually dead or not is unknown.
A scene in the new trailer, which appeared to be a flashback, shows Sam cooking in a kitchen when a child’s toy bumps into his leg. This may have been Lou.
Sam can be heard talking over the scene, saying “You don’t know a god damn thing about Lou.” Fragile responds “Let’s see what we can find on Lou.”
The next scene, which also looks like a flashback, shows Sam cradling Lou in his arms as she reaches for his face. Higgs can be heard telling Sam “If you want answers, you’re gonna have to find them yourself. But, the ones you do find, well, that pain you nurse, will only get worse.”
“Sam the man, in the dark about everything”, says Higgs.
Is Elle Fanning’s character Lou?
Hideo Kojima has said that “Character names cannot be revealed just yet”. However, there is significant speculation that Elle Fanning’s currently unknown character is actually Lou.
She was only shown briefly in the trailer, apparently listening in on a mysterious conversation about amino acids in tar and the origins of the chiral creatures.
As she turns away from the conversation, strands can be seen projecting from her – this suggests she has a connection to the “other side” just like Lou did.
While the identity of Elle Fanning’s character remains a mystery for now, we think there’s a strong possibility that she will play a grown-up Lou.
With DS2 set to release on PS5 at an unknown point in 2025, there’s still plenty of time for fans to examine all the evidence and clues.
After all, Hideo Kojima won’t hold back when it comes to dropping hints on social media and in trailers.
Do you think Lou is dead? Could Elle Fanning’s character actually be Lou? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles.
