Kojima Says Publishers Fear Clashing With GTA 6 Even For Releases Like Death Stranding 2

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'It's Like A Mission Impossible Movie, You Avoid Competing'

Story Highlight
  • Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding’s publishers didn’t want to clash with GTA 6. 
  • He says it’s like movies, when Mission: Impossible releases, others try to avoid it.
  • Death Stranding 2 is now set to release next month on June 26, 2025. 

Hideo Kojima is set to release Death Stranding 2 later this year. After the GTA 6 delay, it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest releases of 2025, and based on the trailer and gameplay, it looks highly promising

Despite coming from one of the most prominent developers in the industry, Kojima says that publishers still fear clashing with the GTA 6 release date, even for titles like Death Stranding 2

Why it matters: Previously, it was claimed that publishers feared launching games in fall 2025 due to the fear of competition with GTA 6. However, the title has now been delayed to 2026. 

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Death Stranding 2 wanted to avoid competition with GTA 6.

Talking to his TBS Radio Show, Hideo Kojima revealed that others move out of the way as soon as a game like GTA 6’s release date is announced. It is kind of like a Mission: Impossible movie; when it releases, all others change their release date

Kojima further stated that the release date for Death Stranding 2 was decided a long time ago based on its development schedule. He initially wanted a September release, but the publisher eventually settled on a June window. 

The title now releases on June 26, 2024

Sony PlayStation is the official publisher for Death Stranding 2, so they had the final say. Of course, the company must be worried because the GTA franchise is so huge that any other release gets dwarfed, leading to compromised sales. 

Nonetheless, Death Stranding 2 has a very clear way ahead of it. It comes out on June 26, 2025, and is already expected to be one of the contenders for the Game of the Year award. The title has received huge upgrades over its predecessor. 

What are your thoughts on Kojima saying publishers wanted to avoid Death Stranding 2 clashing with GTA 6? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

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