If you’re a long-time Kojima Productions fan who primarily plays on PC, you’ve probably been scouring official announcements and leak threads for updates on the Death Stranding 2 Steam release date for months. The original Death Stranding was a massive hit on Steam, selling millions of copies and earning rave reviews for its unique open-world design and star-studded cast, so it’s no surprise players are eager to get their hands on the follow-up as soon as possible. We’ve pulled together every official comment, industry rumor, and pattern from the first game’s launch to give you the most accurate picture of when you can expect to pre-order and play the sequel on Valve’s platform.
Current Official Status of the Death Stranding 2 Steam Release Date
First revealed at The Game Awards 2022 under the working title Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, the sequel has only been officially confirmed for a PS5 launch so far. Kojima has shared small snippets of gameplay and cast announcements over the past two years, confirming the return of Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, and Troy Baker, alongside new cast members like Elle Fanning. No official PC port announcement has been made as of 2024, but that doesn’t mean a Steam launch isn’t in the works.
Sony has not yet confirmed any PC port plans for Death Stranding 2 as of 2024, but industry patterns make a Steam release all but guaranteed. The original Death Stranding launched on PS4 in November 2019, with a Steam port arriving just 8 months later in July 2020, published by 505 Games. Kojima has repeatedly stated that he wants his games to reach as wide an audience as possible, and PC players make up a huge portion of his global fanbase. Most industry analysts agree that a PC port is already in early development, and will be announced shortly after the full PS5 release date is revealed.
Key Factors That Will Impact the Final Launch Timeline
The biggest factor holding up the Steam release is Sony’s standard exclusivity window for high-profile first-party and partner titles. For most major PS5 exclusives, the company locks content to its platform for at least 6 months, and sometimes up to 12 months for top-selling franchises. Death Stranding falls into that high-priority category, so you can expect a similar wait for the PC port after the PS5 launch.
Other factors include port development time and post-launch support for the PS5 version. The sequel runs on an upgraded version of Guerrilla Games’ Decima engine, with more advanced graphical features, larger open-world areas, and expanded multiplayer systems that will take extra time to optimize for the wide range of PC hardware configurations on the market. The dev team will also prioritize fixing day-one bugs and performance issues on PS5 before shifting resources to the PC port.
The top three factors that could speed up or delay the Steam launch are:
- Whether Sony extends its standard exclusivity window for high-profile first-party releases
- The volume of critical bug fixes required in the first 3 months after the PS5 launch
- Port optimization progress for high-end and low-end PC hardware configurations
Based on past patterns, the earliest you can expect a Steam launch is 6 to 9 months after the PS5 release date. While you wait for official release updates, many players fill the gap by replaying the original Death Stranding, checking out other Kojima titles, or testing new casual games to pass the time between announcement drops. Fans who want a quick break from long open-world play sessions often load up 777 Game for short, low-stakes fun that doesn’t require hours of focused play to enjoy. Just make sure you follow official Kojima Productions social channels for announcements, so you don’t miss the second the Steam release date is confirmed.
What to Expect From the Steam Version of Death Stranding 2
The original Death Stranding’s Steam port came with a host of PC-exclusive features that made it well worth the wait for PC players, and you can expect the same treatment for the sequel. The 2020 PC release included support for 4K resolution, uncapped frame rates, ultrawide monitors, and an expanded photo mode with more filters and customization options than the PS4 version. It also bundled all post-launch PS4 DLC into the base purchase, so PC players didn’t have to pay extra for additional content.
The Steam port will almost certainly include all post-launch PS5 DLC content bundled in the base purchase, just like the original game did. You can also expect full Steam feature integration, including cloud saves, achievements, trading cards, and workshop support for custom mods if Kojima Productions decides to open the game up to user-generated content. Steam Deck support is also very likely to be available day one of the PC launch, as the original Death Stranding is fully Steam Deck verified and runs perfectly on the portable device.
Pre-order bonuses will likely include exclusive in-game items like backpack customizations, character skins, and early access to the game’s multiplayer beta, if one is planned. There’s no word yet on cross-play support between PS5 and PC players, but it’s one of the most requested features from the fanbase, so the dev team may include it to connect the global player base.
How to Prepare for the Death Stranding 2 Steam Launch Right Now
There are a few simple steps you can take right now to make sure you’re ready the second the game drops on Steam. First, if the game is already listed on the Steam store, add it to your wishlist immediately. Steam sends out automatic email notifications to wishlisted users when a game goes up for pre-order, launches, or goes on sale, so you won’t miss any important updates.
Wishlisting the game on Steam is the easiest way to avoid missing pre-order windows and limited-time launch discounts. You can also start checking if your PC meets the expected system requirements now, even if official specs haven’t been released. If you can run the original Death Stranding on high settings at 1080p, you’ll probably be able to run the sequel on medium to high settings, but if you want to take advantage of all the new graphical features, you may want to plan for a GPU upgrade if your current card is more than 4 years old.
Follow Kojima’s personal social media accounts and official Kojima Productions channels for early teases and announcement updates, as the team often shares small hints weeks before big official news drops. Avoid buying pre-order keys from unlicensed third-party sellers, as these are often scams or region-locked keys that won't work on your account. Stick to the official Steam store or trusted authorized retailers for all pre-order purchases to avoid losing money to scammers.
We’ll update this guide the second any official details about the Death Stranding 2 Steam release date drop, so you never have to sift through unsubstantiated rumors to get accurate info. While the wait for the PC port will definitely feel long, the extra optimization time and bundled content will almost certainly make it worth holding out for. In the meantime, you can replay the original Death Stranding, catch up on Kojima’s other projects, or explore other PC titles to keep you occupied until launch day.
