Kojima Productions’ Hiroaki Yoshiike outlines three main approaches and ensures they remain viable throughout the experience.

Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding 2: On the Beach still sees players delivering packages across vast, gorgeous environments, with protagonist Sam venturing to reconnect Australia. However, the development team has been showcasing more action recently, with director Hideo Kojima noting it was in direct response to fan feedback.

Of course, it’s not just about a faster pace or more combat. Lead level designer Hiroaki Yoshiike revealed players will have a “range of approaches to every situation” while speaking to Edge for its 411th issue (transcription via GamesRadar).

Explaining the original’s gameplay loop, Yoshiike said, “The player’s purpose was always to deliver a package from point A to point B, so the enemy’s role was purely to disrupt this task.” This resulted in what “was essentially a game of tag.”

For the sequel, Yoshiike says, “Kojima-san wanted a clearer focus on combat, so we wanted to provide players with a range of approaches to every situation they’re faced with.

“There are three main approaches: stealth, direct combat, or avoiding encounters entirely by navigating rougher terrains and taking the road less travelled. Players can choose which route they want to take, and we ensured all three approaches were viable throughout the game. We then designed the enemy AI to respond to these different player actions, so there are many more responses beyond just giving chase.”

Enemies are also a much bigger threat, noticing you from farther away and going the distance to investigate any strange occurrences. It’s reminiscent of how the AI massively improved in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty over the original.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches on June 26th for PS5.