No one expected Death Stranding 2: On The Beach’s PC version to be a straight-up port of the PS5 release given the technical bells and whistles which accompanied the original game’s subsequent PC edition. But, there’s no doubt Death Stranding 2 on PC will become the most technologically robust way to experience Hideo Kojima’s sprawling sequel. If you’re wondering what this genre-bending trek is all about then don your digital walking boots and step to it. From cutting edge upscaling and frame regen tech, to prices and pre-order bonuses, here are fifteen things to know before you buy Death Stranding 2: On The Beach’s PC version.
Standalone Sequel That Continues the Social Strand System
Widely considered the latest of Kojima’s masterpieces – not least in our corner, where we awarded the PS5 release a perfect score – Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is the standalone follow-up to post-apocalyptic delivery simulator Death Stranding. Despite both games walking similar paths, Death Stranding 2 is designed to be approachable even if you didn’t play or finish the original (although knowledge of the game’s befuddling terminology – chiralium, BTs, timefall, DOOMs, and so on – wouldn’t go amiss). At the sequel’s core, however, remains the Social Strand system: an asynchronous online feature where your choice to leave structures, tools, and traversal aids behind indirectly shapes another player’s experience, and vice versa.
Character-Driven Narrative That Pushes the Series’ Themes
In Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima once again delivers a character-driven story which blends sci-fi spectacle with philosophical themes. Norman Reedus’ Sam Porter Bridges returns, joined by new and returning faces, as he embarks on another trek to establish lost connections across remote colonies – this time in Mexico and, predominately, Australia. You should expect a heavy thematic narrative that interrogates the ramifications of isolation and reconnection in a post-pandemic world.
Refined Combat, Stealth, and Traversal
Core gameplay still revolves around traversal, cargo management, and deliveries, but the sequel expands combat and stealth mechanics. You now come equipped with more strategic options, with an expanded roster of tactical gizmos and equipment to promote varied approaches and playstyles. Still, traversal is the experience’s beating heart; deeply physical, with each step placed deliberately. Planning routes, balancing weight, and adapting to environmental hazards are more crucial than ever.
NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel Upscaling Support with Frame Regeneration
Death Stranding 2’s PC version includes support for NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 4, and Intel XeSS 2, alongside upscaling and frame regeneration technology. This means that if your GPU is compatible, you can experience On The Beach’s expansive terrains and dense environmental detail at high fidelity without sacrificing performance. Furthermore, Pico – Progressive Image Compositor – options are available in upscale settings. Developed by Horizon’s Guerilla Games, Pico can be used with all supported graphics cards whilst being combined with any of the frame regeneration options. And finally, all upscaling options can be used alongside Dynamic Resolution Scaling too.
Native 4K and Ultrawide Support
The sequel can also be experienced in native 4K resolution alongside panoramic, ultrawide display support – super ultrawide 32:9 monitors are supported for gameplay, while standard ultrawide 21:9 is offered for in-game cutscenes. You don’t necessarily need an ultrawide monitor either, as high-res 16:9 monitors can enable widescreen aspect ratios in the game’s display settings. The game’s cinematic presentation and vast landscapes are particularly well-suited to wider aspect ratios, and while a 21:9 ultrawide PS5 update will coincide with the PC version, PC is still arguably the most immersive way to experience this detailed world.
Extensive Graphic Settings Include Uncapped Framerates
As you’d expect, this PC release offers a broad range of graphic settings, allowing you to fine-tune visual quality across ambient occlusion, real-time dynamic shadow texture, sand and water effects, and volumetric rendering for inclement weather – rain, sandstorms, fog, that sort of thing. Also, if your hardware and monitor refresh rates are up to it, uncapped framerates are an option.
DualSense Controller Integration
If you’re using a PS5 DualSense as your go-to PC gaming controller, then Death Stranding 2 lets you take advantage of the controller’s haptic feedback to feel the drama in the game’s high-intensity combat through your hands, and study the weight distribution of your cargo through its adaptive triggers. From resistance when traversing uneven ground, to subtle atmospheric feedback, the DualSense brings tactile immersion to the experience.
Full Keyboard and Mouse Customisation
If you prefer traditional PC controls, Death Stranding 2’s also got you covered with complete mouse and keyboard support along with comprehensive keybinding options. Now, PC players of the original Death Stranding report only minor gripes with the default controls. If we assume Death Stranding 2 will be the same, then the option to map custom keybinds will likely be relegated to something that is nice to have rather than being an essential customisation.
Advanced 3D Audio Support
On the subject of what’s essential. Death Stranding 2 PC ships with advanced support for 3D audio, including Dolby Access – enabling Dolby Atmos – DTS Sound Unbound, or Windows Sonic for Headphones. Through compatible headphones or sound systems, object-based surround sound that gives you clear audible pictures – bringing sounds from any direction or elevation – are integral in supporting immersion through exploration. Your ears will pinpoint everything from rainfall on roofs to distant enemy footsteps and chatter, giving you the edge whether you’re sneaking past an outpost or looking for stealthy takedowns.
New Modes and Features are Coming
As confirmed by Kojima Productions, new game modes, features, challenges, and rewards are coming to Death Stranding 2’s PC version, with full details expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. If the original game’s Director’s Cut is anything to go by, you could see a suite of meaningful gameplay, tools, and quality of life improvements rather than cosmetic additions.
Connecting PSN Account Unlocks Exclusive Bonuses
By no means essential, if you’ve got one then logging into your PlayStation account while accessing Death Stranding 2 PC grants access to the PlayStation overlay and unlocks trophy support along with your profile, settings, and friends list. Unique in-game patches, backpack customisations, and a special PS logo-inspired suit are extra incentives to connect your PSN account.
Pre-Order Bonuses
All Death Stranding 2: On The Beach PC pre-orders give the following in-game bonuses: a Quokka early unlock custom hologram, and Battle, Boost, and Bokka Skeletons, each in silver up to level three. If you’re unsure, holograms are visual bonus items used to decorate structures, while skeletons are wearable mechanical leg frames which enhance Sam’s physical abilities. You’ll find these especially useful the harsher the terrain you encounter.
Release Date, Price, and PC Requirements
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach releases to PC on March 19th, with the Standard Edition priced at £69.99 / $69.99. There is a Digital Deluxe Edition available alongside the Standard to purchase via Steam or the Epic Games Store – we’ll detail this edition next.
To hit the game’s minimum PC requirements, with graphics preset set to low and an average performance of 1080p at 30fps, you’ll need an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB GPU, Intel Core i3-10100 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 CPU, and 16GB RAM. In fact, 16GB RAM is what’s required through each graphics preset, from medium through high up to very high.
The recommended PC specs are as follows: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 GPU and Intel Core i7-11700 or AMD Ryzen 7 5700X CPU. This setup should yield you an average performance of 1440p resolution at 60fps. If you want to hit 4K resolution at those framerates, your GPU needs to be a GeForce RTX 4080, AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT or equivalent. 150GB SSD storage is also required.
Digital Deluxe Edition Content
As we’ve just said, a Digital Deluxe Edition is also available, bundling in exclusive, decorative in-game patches plus gold Battle, Boost, and Bokka skeletons, and an early unlock for a level one machine gun – retailing for £79.99 / $79.99.
The Definitive Version – Content Updates Also Coming to PS5
So whilst this isn’t Death Stranding 2: Director’s Cut (that hasn’t been officially announced, but will likely follow the same pattern as Death Stranding), there’s no doubt that the upcoming PC release will be the definitive, most technically complete way to experience the sequel. The advanced graphical options and cinematic widescreen support shape its definitiveness alone, but PlayStation players won’t be left behind as the slated content drops are set to come to PS5 as well as be included in the PC version.