For Kojima, those experiences led to a different approach for the sequel. His own sense of isolation that arose from having to develop Death Stranding 2 with a remote team saw him reconsidering its tale — yet it’s also this isolation that led to Kojima realizing the perils of digital connectivity.

Death Stranding 2 is so much more than a retread of the first game — and it might be Hideo Kojima's best game yet.

Death Stranding 2 is one of the best-rated games of the year so far, in what you'd think could only be fantastic news for developer Kojima Productions and director Hideo Kojima himself. But fans don't think so, as they're all making the same joke about how Kojima must be feeling behind the scenes.