If you’ve been counting down the days to Hideo Kojima’s next post-apocalyptic adventure, you’ve probably wondered what the Death Stranding 2 ESRB rating will end up being, and how it will compare to the 2019 original’s M for Mature rating. The first game pushed boundaries with its heavy themes of grief, connection, and existential dread, paired with occasional violence and crude humor, so it’s only natural to expect the sequel to follow a similar path. But there are a lot of rumors floating around about darker plot beats and more intense gameplay moments that could shift the rating, or add new content descriptors you didn’t see in the first entry. We’ve pulled together every confirmed clue, developer comment, and industry pattern to break down exactly what you can expect when the official rating drops.
What We Can Predict for the Death Stranding 2 ESRB Rating Based on Pre-Release Content
The original Death Stranding earned an M for Mature rating from the ESRB for its depictions of violence, mild gore, strong language, and mature thematic content. All signs point to the sequel sticking with that classification, if not leaning into even more mature elements that align with Kojima’s stated creative goals for the follow-up. I rewatched the 2023 TGA trailer three times last month, and I noticed a quick shot of a BT consuming a human body that’s way more graphic than anything we saw in the first game. That’s almost certainly going to earn a stronger content descriptor for violence and gore than the original got.
ESRB doesn’t assign official ratings until games are nearly complete, so we won’t get a final call until a few months before launch. That said, Kojima has repeatedly stated he wants to explore darker, more nuanced themes of loss, survival, and human connection in the sequel, which all fit squarely within the M rating framework. That kind of content is exactly why so many industry analysts expect the Death Stranding 2 ESRB rating to match or exceed the original’s mature classification. There’s almost no chance the game will earn a T for Teen rating, given the franchise’s established tone and pre-release footage.
Key Content Descriptors Likely Attached to the Official Rating
Content descriptors are the ESRB’s way of telling players exactly what specific content earned a game its rating, so you can make an informed decision about whether it’s right for you. Based on pre-release footage, developer comments, and the original game’s rating, we expect the final listing to include the following descriptors:
- Blood and Gore: Graphic depictions of BT-related injuries, combat between human factions, and post-apocalyptic casualty scenes are all but guaranteed, based on released footage.
- Strong Language: The first game had frequent use of mature swear words during high-stakes moments, and voice actor performances from the sequel’s trailers already include a few uncensored f-bombs.
- Suggestive Themes: Kojima often includes subtle, mature romantic subplots and adult humor that doesn’t cross into explicit territory, so this descriptor will almost certainly carry over from the first game.
- Use of Alcohol and Tobacco: Multiple characters in the first game smoked or drank during cutscenes, and there’s no indication the studio will cut those realistic character beats for the sequel.
You won’t see any descriptors for explicit sexual content, based on everything we know about Kojima’s creative direction for the franchise. He’s always prioritized thematic maturity over shock value, so you don’t have to worry about unprompted explicit content that doesn’t serve the story. You can expect all of these descriptors to be listed clearly on the official Death Stranding 2 ESRB rating page once it goes live. That said, if you’re planning to play with younger family members around, you’ll want to keep the cutscenes restricted to when they’re not in the room.
How the ESRB Rating Will Impact Gameplay and Accessibility
A lot of players assume a rating only tells you how mature a game’s content is, but it actually has a real impact on who can access and enjoy the game comfortably. First, if you’re a parent buying the game for a teen, the M rating means it’s officially recommended for players 17 and older, so you’ll want to review the full content descriptors before making a purchase. Kojima doesn’t include mature content for no reason, so almost all of the game’s darker beats tie directly to its core themes, but they can still be distressing for younger or more sensitive players.
Knowing the Death Stranding 2 ESRB rating ahead of time also lets you adjust your play setup to avoid any content you might find distressing. Kojima Productions has confirmed they’re adding more content warnings for sensitive themes like grief, loss, and body horror, which will pop up before relevant cutscenes, even if the ESRB rating already covers those elements. For streamers, the rating also means you’ll need to adjust your content to meet platform guidelines. Most streaming sites allow M-rated games, but you’ll want to flag graphic cutscenes or enable a mature content filter on your channel to avoid strikes. I learned that the hard way streaming the first Death Stranding’s mid-game BT boss fight, which got me a temporary warning for unmarked graphic content.
Common Myths About the Death Stranding 2 ESRB Rating Debunked
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around social media about the sequel’s rating, so we’re breaking down the most common myths to set the record straight. First, a lot of people claim the game will get an AO (Adults Only) rating because of its darker themes. That’s completely untrue. AO ratings are almost exclusively for explicit sexual content or extreme, uncontextualized violence, which Kojima has never included in his games. There is zero credible evidence pointing to an AO rating, so you don’t have to worry about the game being pulled from mainstream storefronts.
Another common myth is that the rating will be different for digital and physical copies of the game. ESRB rates all versions of a game the same, regardless of format, so you’ll get the exact same content whether you buy a disc or download it digitally. A lot of people also think the rating will change last minute if the studio cuts content, but that’s extremely rare. ESRB ratings are usually finalized 2-3 months before release, and once they’re public, they almost never change unless the studio adds significant new content post-launch. If you pre-order the game now, you won’t get a different version than the one that’s rated, so you don’t have to hold off on pre-ordering just because the official rating isn’t out yet.
At the end of the day, the Death Stranding 2 ESRB rating will almost certainly land at M for Mature, with content descriptors that align closely with the first game, plus a few additions for the sequel’s more graphic thematic and gameplay beats. You don’t have to worry about unexpected content that doesn’t fit the franchise’s tone, and you can expect full official details to drop a few months before the game’s official launch. If you’re still unsure if the game is right for you or your family, you can always review the full ESRB listing once it’s public, which will include specific examples of the content that earned it its rating. No matter what the final rating ends up being, it’s clear Kojima is crafting another thoughtful, mature adventure that will stick with players long after they roll credits.
