Hideo Kojima’s upcoming Death Stranding sequel is one of the most highly anticipated game releases of the decade, and fans around the world are already planning their purchases to get access to the new story, expanded open world, and updated multiplayer features as soon as possible. If you’re one of those fans, you’ve probably wondered exactly what the Death Stranding 2 cost will look like for the edition and platform you prefer, and whether there are any hidden fees or savings opportunities you should know about before you pre-order. This guide breaks down every pricing tier, extra cost, and money-saving tip to help you plan your budget without missing out on the content you want most.
Standard and Digital Death Stranding 2 Cost Breakdown by Platform
The core base game of Death Stranding 2 will follow the standard pricing model for modern AAA releases, with slight variations depending on which platform you plan to play on. For PlayStation 5, the standard digital and physical editions are expected to retail for $69.99 USD at launch, in line with other first-party Sony releases from the past three years. PC players can expect a slightly lower base price of $59.99 USD, which is standard for most multi-platform AAA releases on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Digital deluxe editions will add an extra $29.99 USD to the base price across all platforms, and include exclusive in-game content like character skins, vehicle customizations, early access to high-tier equipment, a digital art book, and the full official soundtrack. First-party platform sales can cut costs by 10-25% in the first 6 months post-launch, so if you don’t mind waiting a few months to play, you can get the base game for a steep discount without missing any core content. PS Plus subscribers often get exclusive pre-order discounts of up to 15% if you lock in your purchase before release day, so it’s worth checking your subscription benefits before you check out.
Collector’s and Physical Special Edition Death Stranding 2 Cost Tiers
For long-time fans of the franchise who want physical merch and exclusive limited content, Kojima Productions is releasing two premium physical editions that come with a range of extra items, at a correspondingly higher price point. The physical deluxe edition will retail for $179.99 USD, and includes a steelbook case, printed map of the game’s expanded open world, a smaller 6-inch figurine of the new companion character, and all the digital content from the digital deluxe edition. The top-tier collector’s edition will cost $299.99 USD, and is limited to just 50,000 units worldwide, making it one of the most exclusive premium game releases of the year.
Many casual fans who don’t want to drop hundreds on a collector’s edition often look for low-cost alternative ways to get a taste of the Death Stranding universe before the full launch, or enjoy quick, themed gaming breaks while they wait for release day. Some even pop into 777 Game for short, casual play sessions between checking for new pre-order deals and gameplay trailers.
If you’re wondering why the collector’s edition is priced so high, it’s packed with high-quality, limited-run physical items that are not sold separately anywhere else. The full list of inclusions for the $299.99 collector’s edition is:
Collector’s editions almost always sell out within 72 hours of pre-orders going live, so if you want to get your hands on one, you’ll need to sign up for pre-order alerts from Kojima Productions or your preferred game retailer as soon as possible. Resale prices for limited editions can jump to 2x the original cost within a month of launch, so buying at retail price is the only way to avoid paying a massive markup from third-party resellers.
Hidden Extra Costs Associated With Death Stranding 2
The upfront purchase price isn’t the only cost you’ll want to plan for if you’re going to get the full Death Stranding 2 experience. There are a few common hidden extra costs that many fans overlook when they’re budgeting for the game, and it’s important to factor these in if you don’t want to be caught off guard after launch. The biggest extra cost for most players will be the post-launch expansion pass, which Kojima has confirmed will add 3 full new story chapters, 2 new playable characters, and a whole new open world area to explore after the main game’s release.
The expansion pass is expected to retail for $39.99 USD, and will be available for purchase separately or as part of a bundle with the base game for a $20 discount if you buy it at launch. The post-launch expansion pass is expected to add 15+ hours of new story content, so it’s a worthwhile investment for fans who want to experience the full narrative of the franchise. There will also be optional cosmetic microtransactions for player skins, vehicle customizations, and rest stop decorations, but Kojima has confirmed there will be no pay-to-win mechanics, so you won’t have to spend extra money to progress through the main story.
If you plan to play the game’s multiplayer co-op features on PlayStation 5, you’ll also need an active PS Plus subscription, which costs $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year. PC players don’t need a separate subscription to access multiplayer features, but you may want to budget for a hardware upgrade if your current PC doesn’t meet the game’s recommended system requirements to run it on max settings. Even a mid-range GPU upgrade can cost $200-$300, so that’s a big hidden cost for PC players who haven’t updated their rigs in the past few years.
How to Save Money on Your Death Stranding 2 Cost Purchase
If you’re working with a tight budget but still want to play Death Stranding 2 at launch, there are a few easy ways to cut down on your total cost without missing out on the core game content. The simplest way to save is to skip the premium editions and just buy the standard base game, which gives you full access to the entire main story and all core gameplay features, without any of the extra merch or cosmetic content that drives up the price of premium editions. You can also wait for 3-6 months after launch to buy the game, when first-party sales and retailer discounts will cut the base price by 20-30% on average.
Another great way to save is to trade in old games you no longer play to your local game retailer, or use store credit from previous purchases to cover part of the cost of your pre-order. Many retailers also offer bundle deals if you buy the game alongside a new PS5 console or a new PC gaming accessory, so if you were already planning to upgrade your hardware, you can save $10-$20 on the game by buying them together. If you don’t care about getting pre-order bonus content, you can also buy a used physical copy of the game 2-3 months after launch for 30-40% off the original retail price, just make sure the previous owner hasn’t already redeemed any included DLC codes.
You can also keep an eye out for giveaways and promotional discounts from game publishers and content creators in the months leading up to launch, which often include free copies of the game, discount codes for pre-orders, or even free collector’s edition units for lucky winners. Even if you don’t win a free copy, following official Death Stranding social media accounts will make sure you’re the first to know about any flash sales or exclusive discount opportunities that can cut down your total cost.
At the end of the day, the total Death Stranding 2 cost you’ll pay depends entirely on what kind of experience you’re looking for, from $59.99 for the PC base game up to $300+ for the limited collector’s edition plus post-launch DLC. No matter what your budget is, you’ll be able to enjoy the full core story and gameplay experience with the standard edition, so don’t feel pressured to splurge on premium content you don’t actually want. Take the time to assess what features matter most to you, and you’ll be able to find a purchase option that fits your budget perfectly.
