If you spent dozens of hours trekking across a post-apocalyptic America to the tune of Low Roar’s haunting folk tracks in the first Death Stranding, you’re probably already hyped for the Death Stranding 2 OST. Kojima Productions has always treated game audio as more than background filler, weaving every track into the story’s core themes of connection, loss, and hope. As someone who’s replayed the original game three times just to catch every hidden audio cue tied to character arcs, I’ve been digging up every confirmed detail about the upcoming sequel’s soundtrack to share with fellow fans. This guide breaks down everything we know so far, from confirmed collaborators to how the music will tie into new gameplay mechanics.
What We Know So Far About the Death Stranding 2 OST Collaborators
While we don’t have a full track list for the Death Stranding 2 OST yet, Kojima has shared snippets of confirmed collaborators across his social media channels over the past year. First and foremost, Low Roar will return as the core contributing artist, even after the tragic passing of frontman Ryan Karazija in 2022. Low Roar’s unreleased tracks will form the backbone of the soundtrack, with Kojima noting that he worked closely with Karazija in the months before his death to curate tracks that fit the sequel’s darker, more hopeful tone.
Silent Poets, the Japanese electronic group that created many of the first game’s ambient and menu tracks, is also confirmed to be returning. Kojima has also teased partnerships with several new indie artists across folk, electronic, and post-rock genres, though he hasn’t shared full names yet to avoid spoiling story beats tied to their tracks. Unlike many game studios that outsource soundtrack work to a single composer after the game is mostly finished, Kojima works directly with artists for years before launch, writing scene drafts around specific tracks and adjusting story beats to match the mood of the music. That’s why every track in the first game felt like it was made exactly for the moment it played in, and the sequel will follow the same process.
How the OST Ties to Death Stranding 2’s New Gameplay Mechanics
The first game’s OST was mostly static, with pre-set tracks triggering when you reached a mountain peak, completed a high-priority delivery, or encountered a BT. The sequel’s soundtrack will be far more dynamic, adapting to both your actions and the world around you in real time. Dynamic audio triggers will now respond to both solo and multiplayer player actions, so you’ll never hear the exact same sequence of tracks twice across two playthroughs.
For example, if you’re working with another player to haul a heavy nuclear reactor across a tar belt infested with BTs, the soundtrack will build slowly from soft, tense ambient sounds to a swelling, uplifting track as you get closer to your destination. If you fail the delivery and fall into the tar, the track will cut off abruptly, replaced by the familiar distorted hum of BT territory. Character themes will also shift based on context: Fragile’s theme, which was soft and somber in the first game, now has sharper, more determined layers that reflect her new role as the leader of a global delivery network. This dynamic adaptation is a big step up from the first game’s more static OST triggers, and it’s one of the features I’m most excited to experience with the Death Stranding 2 OST.
Hidden Easter Eggs and Thematic Details in Teased OST Tracks
Kojima is famous for hiding tiny details in every part of his games, and the Death Stranding 2 OST is no exception. Fans have already picked apart the tracks used in the three official trailers released so far, finding dozens of small Easter eggs that hint at story beats and lore connections to the first game. Some of the most interesting finds so far include:
All teased tracks so far lean into darker, more experimental sounds than the first game’s OST, which matches the sequel’s grittier tone and focus on a world that’s started to heal from the Death Stranding but faces new, even bigger threats. If you listen closely to the most recent 2024 trailer, you can also hear a subtle 3-note nod to Silent Hill’s iconic soundtrack, though Kojima hasn’t confirmed if Akira Yamaoka is involved in the project. It could just be a fun nod to his past work, but fans are already holding out hope for a surprise collaboration.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Death Stranding 2 OST During Playthrough
If you want to experience the soundtrack the way Kojima intended, there are a few small tweaks you can make before you boot up the game for the first time. First, don’t skip cutscenes, even if you’re the type of player who only cares about open world gameplay. Most of the soundtrack’s most impactful tracks debut during story beats, and you’ll miss lyrical callbacks and subtle audio clues that hint at future plot twists if you skip past them.
Second, if you have a pair of 3D audio compatible headphones, turn on the game’s 3D audio setting before you start playing. 3D audio mode makes ambient OST layers feel far more immersive, especially during open world traversal, with tracks fading in and out as you climb mountains, walk through forests, or sail across the ocean. You’ll also be able to hear small audio details like distant BT hums or other players’ shared music players that you’d miss with standard stereo audio.
Third, if you’re someone who likes to listen to game soundtracks outside of play, wait until you finish the main story before streaming the official OST release. Track titles for the full OST will not be released publicly until two weeks after the game’s launch to avoid story spoilers, but even unofficial leaks of track names can give away major plot points if you see them early. If you’re a physical media fan, keep an eye out for the rumored collector’s edition that comes with a 2-disc vinyl copy of the OST, exclusive art prints, and behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process. I still spin the first game’s vinyl on rainy days, so I’m already saving up for the sequel’s edition, no matter how much it costs.
At the end of the day, the Death Stranding 2 OST isn’t just a collection of songs to listen to while you deliver packages. It’s a core part of the game’s storytelling, designed to make you feel every high and low of Sam’s new journey across a changed America. We’ll update this guide as more details are released, including full track lists and release dates for the official soundtrack. For now, keep an ear out for new teased tracks in upcoming trailer drops, and don’t forget to turn up your audio when you boot up the game for the first time.
