If you’ve played the original Death Stranding, you know its soundtrack isn’t just background noise — it’s a core part of the journey, kicking in right as you crest a snow-capped mountain or deliver a critical supply to a desperate outpost. That’s why fans have been obsessing over every tiny clue about Death Stranding 2 music ever since the first trailer dropped at The Game Awards a few years back. I’ve pored over every trailer, developer interview, and social media tease from Kojima Productions to pull together everything we know right now, from confirmed artists to how the score will tie into the game’s new plot and mechanics. You don’t have to dig through hours of footage to get the details, because I’ve done all the work for you.
Confirmed Artists Working on Death Stranding 2 Music
The first and most emotional announcement related to the soundtrack is that unused tracks from Low Roar will be featured heavily in the sequel. For anyone who doesn’t know, Low Roar was the backbone of the original game’s soundtrack, and lead singer Ryan Karazija passed away unexpectedly in 2022. Kojima confirmed earlier this year that the team had worked with Karazija before his death to secure rights to a stack of previously unreleased tracks, so we’ll get to hear new music from the artist that defined the first game’s vibe. Low Roar’s previously unreleased tracks will be paired with work from returning lead composer Ludvig Forssell, whose ambient, haunting sound design made even the quietest cross-country delivery feel epic.
We also have confirmed collaborations with several high-profile alternative artists, including Bring Me the Horizon, who Kojima has posted about working with multiple times on his public social media accounts. Forssell has mentioned in recent interviews that the score will lean into more diverse genre influences this time around, from coastal folk to industrial electronic, to match the game’s wider range of biomes, which include dry deserts, tropical coastlines, and frozen wastelands. This dynamic approach to Death Stranding 2 music means no two playthroughs will have the exact same soundtrack experience, which is a huge upgrade for players who love replaying Kojima’s games.
How the Soundtrack Ties to Death Stranding 2’s Gameplay
Music was already deeply integrated into the first game’s gameplay, but the team at Kojima Productions is taking that integration to a whole new level for the sequel. In the original game, tracks triggered based on your location and progress through the main story, but in the new game, dynamic music triggers will adapt to not just your location, but your actions and even other players’ contributions to the shared world. For example, if you’re working with a group of random players to build a road across a dangerous canyon, the score will shift slowly from tense, isolated ambient sounds to a more uplifting, collaborative track as the road nears completion.
Some areas of the map will also have unique, region-specific tracks that only unlock if you complete special side deliveries for local residents connected to the chiral network. You won’t just be able to buy these tracks from a shop either; you’ll have to earn them by going out of your way to help NPCs that most players will probably skip if they’re only rushing through the main story. The dev team has also confirmed that players will be able to curate custom playlists for their delivery trucks and exosuit speakers once they unlock enough tracks, so you can listen to your favorite songs while you haul cargo across the apocalypse.
Fan Theories About Hidden Music Easter Eggs
Kojima is famous for hiding tiny, easily missed Easter eggs in every part of his games, and the soundtrack is no exception. I’ve seen dozens of fan theories floating around social media over the past year, and a few of them feel way too plausible to ignore. Most of these theories tie back to how Kojima uses Death Stranding 2 music as a storytelling tool, not just background noise, which fits his history of using every game element to advance plot or character development.
Of course, none of these theories are confirmed yet, but Kojima has a history of leaning into fan ideas that fit the tone of his games, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one of these make it into the final release. Just don’t go spoiling them for yourself if you want to be surprised when you play.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Soundtrack When You Play
If you’re the type of player who wants to experience every part of the soundtrack as intended, there are a few small things you can do to make sure you don’t miss anything. First, don’t skip cutscenes. I know it’s tempting to jump right into delivery runs, but many key story tracks only play during cutscenes, and you won’t be able to replay them from the menu until you’ve seen the scene once. I made the mistake of rushing through the first half of the original Death Stranding to get to the main plot, and I missed half the soundtrack the first time around. I had to replay the entire game just to catch all the tracks I skipped, so trust me when I say taking it slow is worth it.
Second, take your time exploring off the main path. A lot of the more unique, ambient tracks are only triggered when you enter hidden, rarely visited areas like abandoned research facilities or remote hot springs. You won’t find these spots if you just follow the main delivery route straight from one node to the next. Third, turn off your non-critical in-game notifications if you want the full immersive experience. There’s nothing worse than a pop-up about another player’s new bridge ruining the vibe of a perfect Low Roar track as you cross a misty plain at sunset.
At the end of the day, the Death Stranding 2 music is shaping up to be even more memorable, emotional, and tied to the core of the game than the original’s already iconic soundtrack. Whether you’re here for more Low Roar tracks, Forssell’s haunting ambient score, or the surprise collabs Kojima has been teasing, there’s something for every type of fan to look forward to. We’ll update this guide as soon as more details drop, so you can stay on top of every new track announcement before the game launches.
