After parting ways with Konami and the Metal Gear series in 2015 post-Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, game director Hideo Kojima created a new studio, Kojima Productions, to continue working on games with much of the key staff from the series that made him famous. The company's first project is the Sony-published, PS4-exclusive Death Stranding, a game that's been kept mysterious right up until launch but has left plenty of fans intrigued.
As we approach the game's launch this week on November 8, reviews have finally hit, letting fans know what to expect from Kojima's latest project. Reviews of Death Stranding have been divisive across outlets, but our own Kallie Plagge gave it a 9/10 in our Death Stranding review.
"Death Stranding is a hard game to absorb," she wrote. "There are many intertwining threads to its plot, and silly names, corny moments, and heavy exposition belie an otherwise very simple message. That comes through much more clearly in the game's more mundane moments, when you find a desperately-needed ladder left behind by another player or receive a letter from an NPC thanking you for your efforts. It's positive without ignoring pain; in fact, it argues in both its story and its gameplay that adversity itself is what makes things worth doing and life worth living. It's a game that requires patience, compassion, and love, and it's also one we really need right now."
During San Diego Comic-Con 2019, we saw our first glimpse of the various Death Stranding pre-order bonuses and Collector's editions; Kojima officially revealed the box art and special-edition steelbook for Death Stranding, both of which depict Sam, the main character played by Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus. The steelbook comes with the Death Stranding Special and Collector's editions of the game, the latter of which just came back into stock. You can check out the official art below.
With a better idea of what the game and its star-studded cast have in store, you might be ready to pre-order, since doing so can net you some neat Death Stranding pre-order bonuses. If you're interested in any of the special editions, for example, you can get the $200 Collector's edition, which includes some physical goodies. There are also multiple Death Stranding pre-order bonuses for securing your copy ahead of November 8. Read on for everything you need to know to pre-order Death Stranding right now, before it's too late.
Death Stranding pre-order bonuses
Pre-order Death Stranding and you'll receive a Chibi Ludens PSN avatar and a Death Stranding dynamic theme for your PS4 as system-level pre-order bonuses. Plus, you'll also receive special gold versions of various in-game items, but you'll have to unlock them through gameplay. Those include:
- Gold "Sam" sunglasses
- Gold hat
- Gold Speed Skeleton (boosts Sam's movement speed when equipped)
- Gold armor plate (boosts Sam's protection against any damage)
Pre-order Death Stranding standard edition
The standard edition comes with just the base game, plus any applicable Death Stranding pre-order bonuses listed above.
- Get it at Amazon -- $60
- Get it at GameStop -- $60
- Get it at Best Buy -- $60
- Get it at Target -- $60
- Get it at Walmart -- $60
- Get it at PlayStation Store -- $60
Pre-order Death Stranding Special edition
As for other editions of Death Stranding, you have handful to choose from. First up, there's the Special edition, which comes with the base game in a collectible steelbook case, plus any Death Stranding pre-order bonuses. You'll also receive a special a gold version of the "Ludens Mask" sunglasses (earned through gameplay), as well as the album Death Stranding: Timefall (Original Music from the World of Death Stranding), which comes with a digital download of the album and a behind-the-scenes making-of digital video.
- Get it at Best Buy -- $70
- Get it at Target -- $70
- Get it at Amazon -- $70
- Get it at Walmart -- $70
- Get it at GameStop -- $70
Pre-order Death Stranding Digital Deluxe edition
You can only get the Death Stranding Digital Deluxe edition from the PlayStation Store. It comes with everything from the Special edition (including the Death Stranding pre-order bonuses), as well as some additional gold items unlocked through gameplay: a gold power skeleton that lets Sam carry more cargo on his back, a gold all-terrain skeleton that helps Sam balance on slopes, snow, and other rough terrain, and a level-2 gold armor plate that gives Sam increased protection against falls, gunfire, and more. You'll also get 10 PSN character avatars.
- Get it at PlayStation Store -- $80
Pre-order Death Stranding Collector's edition
Finally, Death Stranding will have a Collector's edition you can get for $200 at a handful of retailers. It comes with all of the Death Stranding pre-order bonuses, everything offered in the Digital Deluxe edition and the special-edition steelbook, and adds a life-sized BB Pod statue (naturally), a Bridges cargo case, and Ludens keychain.
Update: The Collector's edition is currently back in stock at Best Buy. It will likely sell out quickly, so grab your copy ASAP if you want to pre-order Death Stranding before launch.
- Get it at Best Buy -- $200
Get it at GameStop -- $200Get it at Target -- $200Get it at Amazon -- $200
Pre-order Death Stranding Limited Edition PS4 Pro bundle
The last way to get the game is The Death Stranding PS4 Pro Limited Edition bundle, which was announced during September 24's State of Play. It comes with everything you need to play Death Stranding on its November 8 launch date: a PS4 Pro adorned with oil-stained handprints, a translucent yellow controller that kinda looks like pee, and a physical copy of the game.
- Get it at GameStop - $400
- Get it at Best Buy - $400