Kojima Productions participated in the CEDEC 2026 conference, where a presentation highlighted the success of the original *Death Stranding* (released in November 2019).
In less than seven years, the game's player base has surpassed 27 million people. This figure encompasses both purchasers and players who experienced the title through subscription services or the free giveaway on the Epic Games Store. Notably, there has been significant growth over the past year alone; as recently as March 2025, the player count stood at 20 million.
Analysts attribute part of the original game's rising popularity to the release of its sequel, *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach*. The sequel launched in June 2025 and arrived on PC in March 2026, likely motivating new players to experience the first installment.
Additionally, a *Death Stranding* film adaptation is currently in production, with filming scheduled to begin next year. According to the director, the movie will be packed with action sequences.
