During the recently held Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Special SXSW Panel, Hideo Kojima has shared a new detail about the game, revealing that its tagline will be: “We should not have connected.” This is, of course, a very big difference when compared to the first game’s core message, and it is no coincidence.
As Kojima explained during the interview, this new slogan reflects a 180-degree shift from the original “We must reconnect” message, and that it was directly inspired by his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the first game focused on rebuilding connections in a broken world, the sequel now seems to question those very connections.
“I want people to play the game to understand what I mean,” Kojima said, clearly teasing deeper narrative themes behind the new direction.
And you will not have to wait long, as the official release date for Death Stranding 2 was also announced: 26 June 2025, with pre-orders available come March 17!
You can watch the full recap of the SXSW panel interview livestream here:
What Does It Mean for the Story?
The new tagline has caused quite a bit of speculation across the community about the tone and themes of Death Stranding 2. Some fans think this could hint at:
- An even more dystopian or cynical narrative twist
- The consequences of forced unity or over-connection
- A philosophical evolution of Kojima’s original message
With Death Stranding 2 already looking to be as layered and thought-provoking as its predecessor, this new tagline only deepens the mystery around what is coming next.
TL;DR – Why the New Slogan?
- The new tagline for Death Stranding 2 is “We should not have connected.”
- Kojima says it reflects a 180° shift from the first game’s message.
- The change is inspired by lessons from the pandemic era.
- He encourages players to experience the game firsthand to fully understand the meaning.
- Fans are now speculating on what this could mean for the sequel’s tone and story direction.
More updates are expected in the coming months as we get closer to release, so keep your eyes on this space for more coverage.