Death Stranding Surprise is coming to Xbox Series X and S as Kojima Productions takes control of the IP

by Junna Base November 7, 2024

“Kojima Productions will continue to focus on bringing its award-winning IP, Death Stranding, to more platforms and audiences,” it said in a statement to the press.

Meanwhile, Kojima Productions announced that it now fully owns the Death Stranding intellectual property.

Hideo Kojima said: “It is my pleasure to finally announce that Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be available to Xbox players. I want to thank all the fans who have stayed in touch with us, as well as everyone in the Xbox community who has waited patiently. Kojima Productions (Death Stranding) will continue to connect more and more gamers around the world, so please stay tuned.”

Here is the official blurb:

Death Stranding Director’s Cut challenges players to bring a fractured society back together after the catastrophic Death Stranding event. This has opened a door between the living and the dead, causing creatures from the afterlife to roam the fallen world, which is characterized by a desolate society. With the disjointed remnants of humanity’s future in his hands, players take on the role of Sam Bridges, who embarks on a mission to give humanity hope by connecting the last survivors of a decimated America.

Director’s Cut is the definitive experience, also introducing a new location “Ruined Factory”, a treacherous underground terrain full of new dangers. Sam also now has a wealth of new delivery aids, from cargo catapults and ramps to a stabilizer with thrusters that help shift loads and reduce the impact of landing when jumping from high altitudes. Melee combat has been enhanced with the addition of more moves, including a drop kick, while the new Maser Gun can stun enemies and temporarily short out vehicles with electricity. Thanks to the new shooting range, finding the perfect weapon loadout is now possible, while the new race track allows players to race and compete in time attack competitions against other players connected online. The protagonist, Sam Bridges, can even ride Buddy Bots to traverse the wasteland more easily.

It’s a busy time for Kojima and Death Stranding. The sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, is scheduled to be released by Sony exclusively for the PS5 in 2025, and a film based on the first game is in the works. Kojima also works on OD for Xbox Game Studios and Physint for Sony Interactive Entertainment. Could Death Stranding’s launch on Xbox be a sign that Death Stranding 2 will also be released on Xbox later?

Wesley is the UK news editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].