Between a no-show at this year's PlayStation Showcase and very few updates since its teaser back in December 2022, there are specific details Death Stranding 2 will need to clarify when it comes to its next trailer, such as addressing the sudden age gap between Sam and Fragile. With rumors circulating that a second PlayStation Showcase is being planned, Death Stranding 2 could likely be among the front-runners sent out to appease fans' demands for news. But per Kojima's cryptic, high-concept flair, Death Stranding 2's teaser raised far too many questions that now need something close to an answer.
Though many details are likely going to remain obscure and confusing until players can experience Death Stranding 2 for themselves, one key detail from its teaser appears to make little sense and have no bearing on its story. In particular, this trailer has left fans unsure whether Death Stranding 2 will be a sequel, a prequel, or even a mix of both after a comparatively young Fragile appears alongside a much visibly older Sam. Since Kojima has a reputation for subverting players' expectations, drawing comparisons between "Old Man Sam" and Solid Snake may not be the best material to work with, and Death Stranding 2's next trailer has to give audiences something more.
Sam Got Exposed to Timefall Just Like Fragile?
An immediate explanation as to why Sam appears older than Fragile could be found in Death Stranding's Timefall. By including both Sam and Fragile together side-by-side and not individually within the teaser trailer, Death Stranding 2 could already be hinting towards this as players will know that Fragile herself was forcibly exposed to Timefall by Higgs. So while Sam's age appears to be moderately more advanced as indicated by his graying hair, it's possible that players will learn what sort of circumstances led him to be similarly exposed to Timefall for too long without protection.
This would be a marked shift in how Death Stranding 2 approaches Timefall, however, as previously it was primarily used as a weather condition that degraded player's cargo, ultimately requiring strategies to either endure, avoid, or wait out Timefall. Sam's possible exposure to Timefall could indicate this will become a more significant part of the game's story, such as exploring its true origins, what its effects actually do, and what this means for the world post-stranding. Moreover, if Death Stranding 2 is a direct sequel, then the persistence of Timefall, tar, and DOOMS as seen in the teaser could lead its story back to the Beach.
Death Stranding 2 Might Explore Time?
However, Sam's age might instead point towards time travel in Death Stranding 2 thanks to already-established lore about the Beaches and Chiral Network. For instance, Fragile is not just younger than Sam, but it can be argued that her body doesn't appear to have yet been exposed to any Timefall, suggesting that Death Stranding 2 could be setting up Fragile's backstory with her encountering a future version of Sam. But what this could actually mean for Death Stranding 2's and Sam's stories remains unclear, as the potential use of time travel opens up many possibilities, ranging from attempting to travel beyond the Last Stranding or even preventing it altogether.
These are all key areas Death Stranding 2's next trailer should try to at least touch upon. Unfortunately, Death Stranding 2 is as clear as its predecessor at this point, with its sole teaser only serving to confirm which familiar faces will be returning and who's new to Kojima's star-studded cast like the addition of Elle Fanning. Ideally, the next trailer should offer some more explicit hints for Death Stranding 2, ideally addressing the abnormal difference in age between Sam and Fragile.
Death Stranding 2 is currently in development.