If you’ve been waiting for Hideo Kojima’s weird, heartfelt follow-up to the genre-defying first Death Stranding, you’re not alone. The 2019 original built a rabid fanbase that’s been scouring every trailer and leak for details on the sequel, and one question comes up more than any other as launch approaches: how much is Death Stranding 2? The answer isn’t a single fixed number, because pricing varies widely based on what platform you play on, what edition you pick, and even when and where you buy the game. We’ve pulled together all confirmed and expected pricing details, plus tips to help you avoid overpaying for content you won’t actually use.
How Much Is Death Stranding 2 Across Different Platforms?
As with most first-party Sony-backed AAA releases, Death Stranding 2 will launch first as a timed exclusive on PlayStation 5, before coming to PC and potentially other platforms down the line. That means platform will be one of the biggest factors in how much you pay for the game at launch.
PS5 physical and digital standard editions are priced identically at $69.99 USD at launch, which lines up with the current standard for new first-party Sony releases. Regional pricing varies pretty significantly outside the US: you’ll pay £69.99 in the UK, €79.99 across most of the EU, and $124.95 AUD in Australia for the same standard PS5 edition. Physical copies occasionally get small 5-10% pre-order discounts at major retailers like Amazon or Best Buy, so it’s worth checking multiple listings before you lock in your pre-order.
PC players will have to wait 6 to 12 months after the PS5 launch to get access to the game, per Kojima Productions’ usual porting timeline. PC standard edition pricing is expected to sit at $59.99 USD across Steam and the Epic Games Store, which is consistent with the PC port pricing for the first Death Stranding. There’s no confirmed word on an Xbox release yet, but if it does launch on that platform down the line, it will likely match the PS5’s $69.99 USD price point for standard editions.
You might see tips online about buying the game from cheaper regional storefronts using a VPN, but don’t waste your time. All major platform holders ban VPN use for cross-region purchases, and you risk losing access to the game entirely if you get caught. It’s not worth the small discount to lose all your progress and access.
Death Stranding 2 Edition Pricing Breakdown
Beyond platform, the biggest impact on your total cost is what edition of the game you buy. Sony and Kojima Productions have confirmed three tiers of release for Death Stranding 2, each with different perks and price points. We’ve broken down exactly what you get for each, and who each edition is best for:
I’ve bought collector’s editions for every Kojima game since Metal Gear Solid 4, and the build quality is almost always worth the price if you’re a diehard fan. But if you’re a casual player who will beat the game once and move on to the next release, you’re throwing away roughly $130 for items you’ll probably stick in a closet and forget about in a month. Pre-order bonuses are only available if you purchase the game before the official launch date, so mark your calendar if you want those extra free items, which usually include small exclusive skins or physical keychains depending on the retailer.
Keep in mind that collector’s editions for Kojima games sell out extremely fast. The first Death Stranding’s collector’s edition sold out in less than 2 hours after pre-orders went live, and resellers were listing it for $400+ within a day. If you want the Death Stranding 2 collector’s edition, set a reminder for pre-order launch day, because you won’t get a second chance to buy it at retail price.
Hidden Costs To Watch For When Buying Death Stranding 2
The listed retail price isn’t always the total amount you’ll end up paying for the game. There are a few common hidden costs that catch a lot of players off guard, and it’s important to plan for them if you’re working with a tight budget.
First, you’ll need a PS Plus subscription if you want to use the game’s multiplayer features on PS5. That costs $9.99 a month, or $59.99 a year, if you don’t already have an active subscription. The multiplayer features are a core part of the Death Stranding experience, so if you want to build roads for other players, leave useful items, or see other players’ structures in your world, you’ll need to pay for that subscription on top of the game price.
Optional cosmetic DLC packs are expected to launch 3 to 6 months after release, priced between $4.99 and $14.99 each. Kojima Productions has confirmed there will be no pay-to-win content, but if you want extra skins for your character, vehicles, or structures, you’ll have to pay extra for those down the line. You don’t need these to enjoy the full game, so it’s easy to skip them if you don’t care about customizing your playthrough.
If you order a physical copy of the game online, you might also have to pay shipping fees unless you spend enough to qualify for free shipping at your chosen retailer. Most major retailers offer free shipping for game pre-orders, but smaller specialty stores might charge $5 to $10 for standard shipping, so double check that before you check out. And if you’re buying the PC version, make sure your rig meets the minimum system requirements first. I made the mistake of buying the first Death Stranding on PC without checking, and I ended up spending $300 on a new GPU a week after launch just to run it at 60 FPS on medium settings. Don’t waste money on a game you can’t even play properly.
Is Death Stranding 2 Worth The Price?
At the end of the day, whether the price tag is worth it depends entirely on what you’re looking for out of the game. If you loved the first Death Stranding, even the $69.99 standard edition is an easy pick. The sequel is confirmed to have a map twice the size of the original, a 30+ hour main story, more dynamic multiplayer features, and even more of the weird, heartfelt writing that made the first game a cult hit.
Most players report getting 50 to 70 hours of gameplay out of the first Death Stranding, and the sequel is expected to offer 80 to 100 hours of content for standard edition owners. That works out to less than $1 per hour of gameplay even for the full-price PS5 standard edition, which is a way better value than most linear AAA releases that only offer 10 to 15 hours of content for the same $70 price tag.
If you never played the first Death Stranding, you don’t need to play it to enjoy the sequel, but a lot of the story beats will hit harder if you do. You can usually find the first Death Stranding on sale for $19.99 or less, so it’s worth picking up and playing through first if you’re on the fence about the sequel. If you’re still not sure, wait a couple of weeks after launch for player reviews, or wait 6 to 12 months for the first big sale, when you can usually get the standard edition for 50% off. You’ll miss out on pre-order bonuses and the initial community hype, but you’ll save a lot of money if you’re patient.
At the end of the day, how much is Death Stranding 2 depends entirely on what edition you pick and what platform you’re playing on, with prices ranging from $59.99 for the PC standard edition up to $199.99 for the PS5 collector’s edition. Don’t pay extra for deluxe or collector’s edition perks you won’t actually use, check multiple retailers for pre-order discounts and bonus items, and make sure you account for any hidden costs like PS Plus subscriptions or PC upgrades before you buy. That way, you’ll get the best possible deal without any unexpected surprises.
