As Death Stranding 2 gears up for its June 26 release on PS5, Kojima Productions’ technical director Akio Sakamoto has offered an honest and nuanced perspective on the technological leap from PS4 to PS5—and according to him, the jump isn’t as drastic as many might expect.
In an interview with Edge Magazine, Sakamoto shared that while PS5 offers clear advantages in areas like loading times and development efficiency, the raw difference in technical capabilities between Sony’s last two consoles isn’t revolutionary.
“The difference between the two consoles isn’t that big. It’s more that on PS5 there are more efficient ways of achieving the same goals,” Sakamoto explained.
More Creative Freedom, But New Technical Challenges
Sakamoto elaborated that the real strength of the PS5 lies in how it allows the development team to work more freely, without having to use creative “workarounds” to overcome hardware limitations.
“The PS5’s increased power has allowed artists to build the world more naturally. We didn’t need to hide loading screens or mask transitions,” he said.
However, this freedom also creates new challenges, particularly for the programmers who now need to manage larger, more complex environments, made possible by the more robust hardware.
Technical Upgrades in Death Stranding 2
While Sakamoto downplays the leap between generations, Death Stranding 2 is still bringing notable technical innovations, including:
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A full day-night cycle in its open world
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Dynamic weather and natural disasters, including sandstorms, floods, wildfires, and even earthquakes
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Enhanced environmental detail and fluidity in exploration and traversal
These additions bring a new layer of immersion to Death Stranding 2, helping to expand on the original’s narrative-driven, atmospheric experience.
A Bigger, Bolder Sequel
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach reunites players with Sam Porter Bridges, once again played by Norman Reedus, and features returning characters like Léa Seydoux and Troy Baker, alongside newcomers Elle Fanning and director George Miller. The story expands beyond the United States, sending players across the globe aboard the DHV Magellan, a ship that acts as a mobile base for reconnecting what remains of humanity.
With a blend of combat, stealth, open-world exploration, and Hideo Kojima’s signature narrative eccentricity, the sequel promises to build on the foundation of the 2019 original in both scope and ambition—even if, technically, it’s a more evolutionary than revolutionary leap.