If you’ve been following Hideo Kojima’s chaotic, post-apocalyptic delivery universe for years, you’re probably already counting down the days until you can jump back into the world of Death Stranding 2. As preorders roll out across all major platforms, a lot of fans are asking exactly what extras they’ll get for putting their money down early. I still have the limited-edition BB pod keychain I scored from the first game’s preorder, so I get why nailing down every detail of your Death Stranding 2 preorder bonus matters before you click purchase.
What’s Included in the Standard Death Stranding 2 Preorder Perks
The base, no-upgrade preorder bonus applies to every standard edition copy of the game, whether you buy digital or physical, from any authorized retailer. You don’t have to pay extra to unlock these rewards, and they’re available to players on all supported platforms, no console lock-in for the base set. Universal standard preorder bonus items include a custom chiral print backpack skin for Sam, a unique bridge structure cosmetic that lets you mark your builds for other players to spot easily, and 24-hour early access to a low-stakes side delivery mission that unlocks a rare healing item recipe you can’t get anywhere else for the first two weeks post-launch.
You also get a free 10-page digital art sampler featuring concept art of new characters and locations from the game. That sampler is only available to preorder customers, and won’t be sold as a standalone item after launch. For casual fans who just want the base game and a few small extras, this standard bonus set is more than enough to make early purchase worth considering.
Exclusive Edition-Specific Death Stranding 2 Preorder Bonus Rewards
If you’re willing to spend a little extra for premium editions of the game, you’ll unlock a whole stack of additional preorder bonuses that aren’t available with the standard copy. These rewards vary by edition, and some of the physical items are only manufactured in limited runs, so they’ll sell out fast once preorders open to the general public. All edition-specific bonuses stack with the standard preorder rewards, so you won’t lose out on the base extras if you upgrade.
- Deluxe Digital Edition bonus: Full digital copy of the game’s original soundtrack, 5 exclusive chiral gear skins for Sam’s tools and vehicles, 2 additional early side missions that unlock rare crafting blueprints, and a 50-page digital art book sampler
- Physical Collector’s Edition bonus: All deluxe digital rewards, a 1:12 scale hand-painted Fragile statuette, a 120-page hardcover full art book, a physical CD copy of the soundtrack, and a limited-edition steelbook case with custom art by Hideo Kojima’s art team
- Platform-exclusive preorder bonuses: PlayStation Store preorder customers get a custom dynamic PS5 home screen theme and avatars, while Xbox Store preorder customers get a matching profile background and exclusive Death Stranding 2 emoji pack for Xbox chat
Limited-run Collector’s Edition preorders usually sell out within the first week of being announced, so if you’re a diehard fan who wants the Fragile statuette or hardcover art book, you’ll want to lock in your preorder as soon as possible. I waited three weeks to preorder the Collector’s Edition of the first Death Stranding, and missed out on the BB pod statuette that now sells for three times its original price on resale sites. Don’t make that same mistake if that’s something you care about.
How to Claim Your Preorder Bonus After Purchase
Claiming your rewards is pretty straightforward, but there are a few small pitfalls you’ll want to avoid to make sure you don’t lose access to any of your extras. If you bought a digital copy of the game, most of your rewards will be automatically added to your account when you download the game on launch day. You’ll get a pop-up notification when you first boot up the game confirming that your preorder rewards have been added to your inventory.
If you bought a physical copy of the game, you’ll find a printed redemption code inside the game case that you’ll need to enter on your platform’s digital store to unlock your rewards. Region-locked bonus codes only work on accounts from the same region you bought the game in, so if you import a copy from another region, you won’t be able to redeem your preorder bonus on your local account. You have 12 months from the game’s launch date to redeem your code before it expires, so don’t leave it sitting in the case for years before you enter it.
If you preordered from a third-party physical retailer, make sure you ask for your preorder bonus code at the time of pickup, or check your order confirmation email for a digital code. Some retailers send separate codes for store-specific exclusive bonuses, so keep an eye on your inbox in the week leading up to launch to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Is Preordering Death Stranding 2 Worth It for the Bonus Alone?
This is the question a lot of casual fans are asking right now, and the answer depends entirely on how much you care about the exclusive rewards and how confident you are that you’ll enjoy the game. Let’s start with the upsides: all the exclusive preorder cosmetics and physical items won’t be available for purchase after launch, so if you want the Fragile statuette or the custom bridge skin, you have to preorder to get them. You also lock in your purchase price when you preorder, so if the game’s price goes up closer to launch, you won’t have to pay extra.
That said, there are a few downsides to consider before you preorder. Most platforms have a no-refund policy for redeemed preorder content, so if you boot up the game on launch day and hate it, you won’t be able to get your money back if you already redeemed your bonus codes. Most of the cosmetic rewards also don’t affect gameplay at all, so if you don’t care about custom skins or extra art, you’re not missing out on any functional content by waiting to buy the game after launch.
For me, preordering is a no-brainer, because I’ve put over 200 hours into the first Death Stranding and know I’m going to play the sequel day one. But if you’re on the fence about the game, or don’t care about the exclusive cosmetic items, you’re better off waiting for launch reviews to come out before you spend your money. You’ll still get the full game experience, you’ll just miss out on a few small extras.
At the end of the day, the value of your Death Stranding 2 preorder bonus comes down to what you want out of your purchase. Casual players will be happy with the standard edition’s small extra perks, while diehard fans will get a ton of value out of the Collector’s Edition’s limited-run physical items. Just make sure you read the fine print from your retailer before you preorder, so you know exactly what rewards you’re getting and how to claim them when the game launches.
