In the lead up to Hideo Kojima’s latest game, the game director had often mentioned what he believed was the start of a new subgenre. Affectionately dubbed a “strand” game, much ofDeath Stranding’s marketing was bolstered by what Kojima believed was an innovative new concept for games. Obviously, stating that a game is starting a new genre before it’s even released is short-sighted, something Kojima addressed by immediately doubling down. Kojima had essentially stated that the full potential of an “action strand game” genre would not be met without a few sequels to present the scope of his new subgenre of video games.
Of course, that kind of discourse from a game developer should be taken with a grain of salt, even from an auteur-like figure such as Hideo Kojima. More importantly, it means that Kojima Productions is committed to continuing/expanding theDeath StrandingIP further. Rather than potentially working on a new or different IP like theSilent Hillrumor from a few weeks ago, Kojima Productions' next project may be an entry in or surroundingDeath Stranding. Either that, or it’s another “strand” type game that’s similar conceptually, but could be closer to aMetal Gear-style game.
Discussing What a “Strand Game” Is Exactly
Firstly, it’s important to hone in on Kojima’s comments aboutthe next big videogame genre, the “strand” type of game. In a way, Kojima had stayed true to his word in creating a game that, at first, seemed genre-less or at bare minimum tough to distinguish. One of the biggest and most important questions prior toDeath Stranding’s gameplay reveal was: What isDeath Stranding? Some had asked in jest, others were genuinely curious ofDeath Stranding. According to Hideo Kojima, a “strand game” involves the usage of social systems to emphasize and incorporate “the concept of connections” between all players, otherwise known as “strands.”
That manifests in-game as the manycommunity-fed systems of infrastructure aroundDeath Stranding’s world. Players can contribute supplies to survival caches, containers, roads, paths, and other important exploration tools for getting through the game’s abstract, apocalyptic interpretation of the United States. Because the main premise of the game is re-connecting the isolated United States together after supernatural disaster, many of the gameplay concepts reflect that idea. Players are both encouraged and rewarded for placing objects in the world that aren’t necessarily imperative for themselves, but could save lives for others, at least conceptually speaking.
In the Wake of Death Stranding, Is a Sequel Possible?
It’s an interesting conceptual design that does genuinely makeDeath Strandingdifferent from many singleplayer and survival-style games. However,Kojima’s comments on the “strand game” genre mentioned sequels, some that may not necessarily be exactly likeDeath Stranding. In an interview with GameSpot, after being asked about the future ofDeath Stranding, he stated a new genre of games isn’t defined by just one gameplay experience:
‘The most difficult part is, when you create something new, you have to create a sequel and then a third version or it will not remain as a genre.’
Kojima then went on to mention that media reception forDeath Strandingwould presumably be mixed, with “pros and cons” ofDeath Stranding’s approach to the “strand game” genre. Much of that was actually reflected intheDeath Stranding’s reviews, which were notoriously mixed from media outletsaround the world. Regardless of how the “strand game” genre was realized inDeath Stranding, Kojima ultimately believes in his vision of a “strand game” genre. A potentialDeath Strandingsequel could solidify that genre, assuming the developer has not been discouraged byDeath Stranding’s reception.
There is a high likelihood that Kojima Productions' next title truly is aDeath Strandingsequel, or a new “strand game” of some kind. Kojima is not usually one to mince words, especially if it’s a game he believes is shepherding in a new genre for the medium.
Theoretically speaking, there is some range inthe ideas that Kojima implemented inDeath Stranding. WhileDeath Stranding’s vehicle for introducing the “strand game” genre was mostly about delivery and movement, a true-to-core survival game could also lend itself well to the “strand” community concepts. Theoretically these kinds of elements could be implemented into a horror game as well, as team-based horror experiences likePhasmophobiaorDead by Daylighthave proven to be very popular. It doesn’t necessarilyhaveto be aDeath Strandingsequel, but Kojima’s commitment to the “strand game” means there’s more to come from Kojima Productions.
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