Death Stranding 2 is anticipated because of GTA 6 in 2026

The impact of Grand Theft Auto VI on the industry has already begun before its release. The game, which recently had its release date confirmed for May 26, 2026, forced a significant reconfiguration in the schedules of major studios. The most emblematic case so far is that of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, by Hideo Kojima, which had its release date moved up to June 26, 2025 — three months ahead of the initial forecast.

“Many studios prefer to avoid releasing games close to titles with a big impact, like GTA 6”, stated Kojima, explaining the strategic change. The practice of avoiding direct confrontations with blockbusters like GTA is not new. However, with the official confirmation of the release date of GTA 6, the early move of Death Stranding 2 stands out as a clear response to the massive influence that the Rockstar Games title exerts on the market.

The decision to postpone the release of GTA 6 to the first half of 2026 was announced by Rockstar at the end of April, frustrating expectations that the game would arrive in the fall of 2025. According to the company, the new date aims to ensure the expected level of quality for a title of such scale. The game will be set in Vice City, a fictional version of Miami, and will feature the protagonists Lucia and Jason, immersed in a narrative of conspiracy and criminality. This approach was already hinted at in the second official trailer, released in December 2023.

With the new date in hand, several studios must reposition themselves to take advantage of the "attention vacuum" in 2025. The Death Stranding 2 itself, exclusive to PlayStation 5, seems to bet on this moment free of direct competition. The game will bring back Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, and introduce new characters, played by Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna. The project is produced by Kojima Productions, with creative direction by Kojima himself, focusing on exploration, isolation, and symbolic narrative — characteristics of the first game released in 2019.

The strategic move to anticipate Death Stranding 2 may inspire other developers to occupy the space of 2025 with more confidence, before the market is dominated by the attention to the awaited release of Rockstar. In the coming months, it will be possible to observe how many other titles will follow the same path.