If you played the first Death Stranding, you probably remember exactly where you were when Low Roar’s “I’ll Keep Coming” kicked in as you scaled a snow-covered mountain with a stack of delivery orders slung over your back. That quiet, haunting blend of folk and electronic didn’t just play in the background—it felt like a character itself, tied directly to Sam Porter Bridges’ lonely journey across a broken America. It’s no surprise that Hideo Kojima is bringing the partnership back, and the teasers we’ve seen so far prove that Death Stranding 2 Low Roar tracks are going to be even more central to the story this time around. This piece breaks down what we know about the collaboration so far, how the tracks tie to teased plot points, and why this partnership works so well for the franchise.
What We Know About Death Stranding 2 Low Roar Collaborations So Far
Back in 2022, Low Roar frontman Ryan Karazija unexpectedly passed away at 40, leaving fans of both the band and Death Stranding wondering if the sequel would still feature his signature sound. Kojima quickly put those worries to rest, confirming that he and Karazija had been working closely on original tracks for DS2 for two years before his death, and all planned songs for the game were fully recorded. Unlike the first Death Stranding, which pulled most of its Low Roar tracks from existing albums, every DS2 track was written specifically for the game’s story and characters.
Kojima has stated that Low Roar’s music was one of the core creative pillars for the first Death Stranding, and he built large parts of DS2’s narrative around the unreleased tracks they worked on together. That means the music won’t just be background filler this time around—lyrics, tone shifts, and even small production choices will line up directly with cutscenes, character arcs, and key plot reveals. We’ve already heard snippets of three separate tracks across official DS2 teasers, and each one aligns with the darker, more uncertain tone Kojima has teased for the sequel.
It’s also worth noting that the collaboration is a tribute to Karazija’s legacy. Kojima has talked publicly about how Karazija’s music helped him shape the entire vibe of the Death Stranding universe when he was first drafting the first game’s concept, so wrapping up their partnership with DS2 feels like a fitting sendoff for both the creative relationship and Karazija’s work.
How Low Roar’s Sound Ties to DS2’s Core Plot Themes
Low Roar’s signature sound is defined by soft, breathy vocals, sparse acoustic guitar, and distant, fizzing electronic layers that feel both intimate and isolated. Lyrically, Karazija’s work often touches on loneliness, regret, connection, and the struggle to keep moving forward when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Those themes were a perfect match for the first Death Stranding’s story of rebuilding connections across a fractured world, and they line up even better with the plot teases we’ve seen for DS2.
Every confirmed Low Roar track for DS2 lines up with the themes of regret and second chances that Kojima has teased for the sequel’s story. The first teaser track, for example, has repeated lyrics about “going back to fix what I broke” paired with footage of Fragile holding a younger version of Sam, and shots of the chiral network failing across the country. Kojima has also hinted that DS2 will explore what happens when the connections you fought so hard to build don’t turn out to be the cure for the world’s problems you thought they would be, which is exactly the kind of bittersweet, complicated theme Low Roar’s music excels at conveying.
You don’t have to dig into lyric breakdowns to feel the connection either. Even the instrumental snippets we’ve heard feel like they’re made for long, quiet stretches of road where you’re left alone with your thoughts about the choices your character made in the first game. That’s the magic of Low Roar’s music for this franchise—it doesn’t tell you how to feel, it mirrors the feelings you’re already having as you play.
Low Roar Tracks That Will Likely Play During Key Story Moments
Kojima is famously intentional about where he places licensed music in his games, and we can make very educated guesses about where the confirmed DS2 Low Roar tracks will show up based on patterns from the first Death Stranding and the context of the teasers they were used in. Here are the most likely placements:
- The opening title sequence: The slow, brooding track used in the first DS2 reveal trailer is almost guaranteed to play over the opening credits, right after the first cutscene that sets up the game’s core conflict. It’s the perfect tone for a game that picks up years after the first game’s hopeful ending, and immediately signals that not everything went as planned.
- Sam’s first long solo delivery mission: Kojima always saves a mid-tempo Low Roar track for the first time you’re out on the open road alone, no tutorial prompts, no other characters to talk to. This time, the track will likely have lyrical references to Sam’s past choices, to remind players of the weight he’s carrying into the sequel.
- The game’s climax before the final act: There’s a faster, more urgent unreleased Low Roar track that was used in a 2023 gameplay snippet, and it’s a perfect fit for the moment where the main villain’s plan is revealed and the stakes become life or death for every character on the chiral network.
- The post-credits tribute sequence: Kojima has already confirmed that one of the final tracks in the game will be a tribute to Ryan Karazija, playing over a series of behind-the-scenes clips and shots of the characters we’ve spent the game with, wrapping up the story on a bittersweet note.
Of course, Kojima is famous for subverting expectations, so there’s a good chance we’ll get a few surprise placements too. For example, he might use a quieter, softer Low Roar track during a cutscene where two characters who haven’t spoken in years reconnect, which would hit a lot harder than a traditional orchestral score would. No other artist could capture that specific mix of loneliness and hope quite as well, so every Death Stranding 2 Low Roar placement will feel intentional, not forced.
Why the Low Roar Partnership Works So Well for the Death Stranding Franchise
Most video game soundtracks fall into one of two buckets: generic orchestral scores that fade into the background while you play, or licensed pop tracks that feel like they were thrown in for marketing buzz, with no real connection to the game’s story. The Death Stranding and Low Roar partnership avoids both of those pitfalls, because it grew organically out of Kojima’s personal love for the band’s work.
Low Roar’s music doesn’t just sound good in the moment—it sticks with you long after you stop playing, because it’s tied directly to the emotional beats of your own journey through the game. When you hear a Low Roar track a year after finishing Death Stranding, you don’t just think “that’s a song from a game I played” — you remember the specific delivery you were on, the view from the top of the mountain you just climbed, the relief of getting to a timefall shelter right before the rain started. That level of emotional association is almost impossible to create with a custom orchestral score alone.
The partnership has also been mutually beneficial for both sides. A huge portion of Low Roar’s current fanbase discovered the band through the first Death Stranding, and Karazija talked multiple times about how meaningful it was to see his music resonate with people who would have never found it otherwise. It’s rare for a game franchise to have such a tight, consistent creative partnership with a single band, especially one with such a distinct sound that aligns perfectly with the game’s identity.
You also don’t have to be a existing Low Roar fan to appreciate the role the music plays in the games. The tracks are mixed to fit the world perfectly, so they never feel intrusive, and they add a layer of emotional depth to even the most mundane delivery runs. Even players who don’t normally pay attention to video game soundtracks usually notice the Low Roar tracks in Death Stranding, because they feel like a natural part of the world.
At the end of the day, the Death Stranding series is as much about the feeling of being in its world as it is about the plot or gameplay mechanics. The Death Stranding 2 Low Roar partnership isn’t just a callback to the first game—it’s a way to make the sequel feel both familiar and new, to carry over the emotional weight of the first game while building something that stands on its own. If you’re a long-time fan, you’ll probably get chills the first time that signature Low Roar hum kicks in as you crest a hill and see a new stretch of ruined America spread out in front of you. If you’re new to the series, you’ll quickly understand why so many players consider the band’s music an irreplaceable part of the Death Stranding experience. Either way, it’s one of the many small, thoughtful touches that makes Kojima’s games feel so personal, even when they’re telling huge, world-spanning stories.
