Highlights

  • Death Stranding 2: On the Beach showcases stunningly realistic visuals, surpassing its predecessor in terms of graphical fidelity and setting a new standard for PlayStation exclusives.
  • The character models in Death Stranding 2 are incredibly detailed, with each person looking nearly identical to the actor or actress portraying them, down to minuscule details like skin pores and hair movement.
  • The game's motion capture technology allows for realistic animations, contributing to the immersive experience. The lighting in Death Stranding 2 is also exceptional, highlighting detailed textures and creating a visually stunning environment.

PlayStation's 2024 State of Play featured several highly anticipated titles, including Dragon's Dogma 2, Rise of the Ronin, and Judas. However, another title shown during the State of Play has captured the attention of gamers on an entirely different level than the rest: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hideo Kojima's sequel to the cult-classic hit Death Stranding. This past week, Death Stranding 2's extended State of Play trailer showcased a stunning display of visuals that are, at times, difficult to differentiate from reality.

Although it won't be released until 2025, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is proving to be a graphical masterpiece, simply judging by its trailer. The first installment's visuals were already awe-inspiring, so the fact that its sequel is taking them even further gives rise to a new standard of graphical fidelity when it comes to PlayStation exclusives. As Sony is known for dispensing visually remarkable exclusives, it may need to consider what Death Stranding 2 is bringing to the table.

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Death Stranding 2's Visuals Set a New Standard for PlayStation Exclusives

It's not enough to simply say that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has "good graphics." What has been revealed thus far is stunningly realistic, and while this is due in part to the technological developments that have taken place over the last few years, it's also due to the dedication and devotion of the Kojima Productions' team and its cast. Its predecessor, Death Stranding, was already a sight to behold, and Death Stranding 2 seemingly plans to surpass it in all regards.

One of the standout features of Death Stranding 2's visuals is character model fidelity. Each person looks nearly identical to the actor or actress that portrays them, down to minuscule details like skin pores or the moles on Norman Reedus' face — even the small freckle near Lea Seydoux's jawline. Near the end of Death Stranding 2's State of Play trailer, Elle Fanning's character appears, and very clear details can be made out about her face, including the gentle swaying of her blonde hair.

Death Stranding 2's Motion Capture Perpetuates Kojima's Brilliance

Elle Fanning in Death Stranding 2

Thanks to motion capture technology, each character in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach moves like an actual human being, rather than like a video game character modeled after one, and these realistic animations are a huge part of what contributes to Death Stranding 2's visuals. Although each character's hair tends to move as though it's underwater, it's not enough to steal away from the immersion that the game's visuals as a whole provide.

Accurate animations allow for easy interpretation of each character's emotions, which is essential for a series as emotional and cinematics-driven as Death Stranding .

Death Stranding 2's lighting is another of its extraordinary features, and its vast potential is thoroughly achieved, especially in the game's various environments. Whether during the day or at night, in the light or the dark, appropriate lighting is used to highlight detailed textures on people, objects, landscapes, and more. As the recent State of Play trailer covers several of Death Stranding 2's environments, Kojima Productions' brilliant use of light is plainly seen, especially in the snow-covered mountaintops and the rocky expanse as Sam walks toward the bright moon.

Death Stranding 2's 2025 Release Gives It Even More Time to Marinate

The fact that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is still at least a year away and is already displaying such immersive visuals is astounding, to say the least. The graphical prowess that it has demonstrated in its State of Play trailer shows that Death Stranding 2 should be considered a benchmark for PlayStation exclusives from here on out. With its lifelike depictions of people, its excellent use of motion capture technology, and its exceptional lighting, it is likely to be a riveting experience when it releases next year.