PlayStation’s promise to invest more into live service games is certainly on track to be kept, as The Last of Us’ multiplayer spin-off is on the way and Horizon’s multiplayer game has leaked. With plans to turn two of its most successful franchises into ongoing titles, it is clear that Sony’s foray into the realm of games-as-a-service will not be limited to entirely new IP. With this in mind, more established PlayStation exclusives could get multiplayer spin-offs, with one obvious option being Death Stranding.
The original Death Stranding already had an innovative form of multiplayer thanks to the Strand system, with players influencing the worlds of other gamers despite not actually being inside of them. While this should remain a fixture of the franchise, as coming across a player-created structure or tool is a lot of fun, going on deliveries with friends could be a thrilling experience. The mainline singleplayer experiences of Death Stranding thrive because they focus on isolation, but small groups of porters are shown, and playing as those nameless porters could lead to a highly replayable multiplayer game.
Proper Multiplayer For Death Stranding 2 Could Work Very Well
Death Stranding’s gameplay is a bit divisive, as its slow style makes it a poor streaming title and its lack of action will instantly turn some players away. However, those that connect with the game adore going on deliveries, finding it relaxing or loving the challenges that come with traversing the environment. Considering how open the areas of Death Stranding’s world are, it is easy to imagine them supporting two, three, or four players in co-op.
Players could go on multiple deliveries at once, coming up with ways to hit all the delivery points across one large road trip. Larger MULE camps with more difficult enemies and extra resources could be built for co-op play, with gamers working together to make the most of every raid they go on. A full group of players could intentionally trigger a massive BT attack just to farm chiral crystals, fighting numerous squids or even a whale like the one Sam battled at the end of the first game.
Death Stranding’s private rooms could be greatly expanded upon in a multiplayer spin-off, with players able to customize several aspects of the rooms and walk around their friends’ base. New customization items for the rooms could drive players to keep on playing, with players always having somewhere comfortable to relax after a long journey. This form of cosmetic could be perfect for a battle pass, and would only be outdone by the potential character customization options.
Instead of playing as an established character like Sam Bridges, players could create their own porter, customizing how they look and what they wear. The Death Stranding franchise has excellent fashion, and items ranging from new hairstyles to headwear and clothing could constantly come to an in-game shop. Alongside cosmetics, character creation could allow players to choose their DOOMs, picking from a few different abilities. One could allow them to repatriate like Sam, another could let then summon friendly BTs like Higgs, and a third option could grant Porters some short distance teleportation like Fragile. If players can customize the abilities of their protagonist alongside their looks, a Death Stranding multiplayer spin-off could feel like an online RPG.
While more can absolutely be done with the experimental Strand-type multiplayer, like Elden Ring-style invasions, a full-on co-operative experience feels like a natural direction for Death Stranding to go in. The racetrack from the first game’s Director’s Cut would become more interesting when competing against other porters that exist in the same play space, and the Firing Range serve as another form of friendly competition. Knowing Kojima, there would surely be some memorable animations to find and random things to do in a multiplayer experience, and it would be interesting to see him push the boundaries of co-op just like he has done for stealth and singleplayer games.
Death Stranding 2 is currently in development for PS5.
