History VideoGame / DeathStranding

*** Sam's voice actors in those versions (Alfredo Gabriel Basurto and Carlos di Blasi respectively) both were the dub voice of [[Manga/InuYasha Sesshoumaru]], another stoic character being more or less forced to be hanging around with a little kid during all his journey, while that kid is helping him along the way.

*** Both Creator/PedroDAguillonJr (Deadman) and Creator/JoseAntonioMacias (Heartman) had previous experience on voicing characters dealing with ghosts-like beings, except this time, [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} those ghosts aren't hanging around on your neighborhood]].[[note]]The former voiced Ray Stantz in the live-action films and ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'', and the latter voiced Garret Miller in ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters''.[[/note]]

* AnAesop:
** Humanity must come together to survive. The plot is about reconnecting the settlements of America together to avoid an extinction. Gameplay-wise while the players play on their own, they'll eventually be able to indirectly cooperate with other players to make the deliveries easier and pretty much change the landscapes, the interactions being designed to be always positive in nature as emotes can grant small buffs, direct others to a better path, or warn others about hazards.
** Humanity's greatest strength is its capacity for compassion. The game places a lot of emphasis on being kind to other players even if you can't see them, and you're judiciously rewarded for placing down structures with the intent of helping other people. This is also true within the story, as numerous characters become better people through love and kindness. [[spoiler: Fragile's self-sacrifice saves a whole city, and earns her allies in Sam and BRIDGES; Deadman's empathy towards Sam and Lou allow them to go free at the end of the game; and Cliff's love for his infant son [[LoveRedeems ultimately allows him to move on peacefully, and gives Sam a shot at a life he wouldn't otherwise have had]].]]
** Despite all of the above, Sam learns to accept that humanity will one day cease to exist. [[spoiler:[[AntiNihilist And that's not a reason to despair, because they've had one hell of a run]]. [[BringIt Besides, whatever life forms succeed humanity have the potential to inherit their will and legacy, and succeed where they failed - ]]]] but that can only happen if humanity takes good care of itself right now.
** You need to cut some ties to forge other ones. [[spoiler:The Chiral Artist leaves her mother's home to come back to her boyfriend and says that she never wants to speak to her again (though that changes later). Sam cuts ties with BRIDGES to give Lou a better future. He also cuts some toxic ties with Amelie to save humanity.]]
** You have to accept death and not close your heart for new bonds with living people. [[spoiler:Mama severs her connection with her baby to reconnect with her sister Lockne. Heartman accepts the death of his wife and daughter and makes new connections with members of BRIDGES (and finds a new partner, Samantha). Deadman still has an interest in Beaches, but thanks to his friendship with Sam and Lou he appreciates life and is more willing to seek out new relationships.]]

* CastingGag: Creator/TroyBaker playing a psychopathic terrorist leader with associations to ancient Egypt and has delusions of grandeur relating to the reality-warping powers that led to the post-cataclysmic state of the world? [[WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex Where have we seen this before?]]

* WesternZodiac: At the beginning of the game, it asks you to input your birthday. Afterwards, it says that people born under Aquarius, Pisces, Cancer... and [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers Cetus, Delphinus, and Gigas]] have higher [=DOOMs=] levels (the extent of these effects on gameplay is still unclear other than the game celebrating your birthday). These constellations are all based on aquatic animals.

At The Game Awards 2022, a {{sequel}} titled ''VideoGame/DeathStranding2OnTheBeach'' was announced in production for a 2025 release, with Reedus, Seydoux and Baker returning to the cast alongside newcomers Creator/ElleFanning and Shioli Kutsuna, with Creator/GeorgeMiller and Fatih Akin in guest starring roles. [[https://deadline.com/2022/12/death-stranding-film-from-barbarian-producer-alex-lebovici-in-works-1235200209/ A film adaptation]] is also in the works with Kojima acting as executive producer.

At The Game Awards 2022, a {{sequel}} titled ''Death Stranding 2: On The Beach'' was announced in production for a 2025 release, with Reedus, Seydoux and Baker returning to the cast alongside newcomers Creator/ElleFanning and Shioli Kutsuna, with Creator/GeorgeMiller in a guest starring role. [[https://deadline.com/2022/12/death-stranding-film-from-barbarian-producer-alex-lebovici-in-works-1235200209/ A film adaptation]] is also in the works with Kojima acting as executive producer.

* NowAllowedToHug: Sam is not only an asocial loner, he also suffers from aphenphosmphobia and appears to have a genuine allergic reaction to physical contact (simply touching his skin with a bare hand is enough to bruise it). However, his massive journey to reunite the post-apocalyptic remains of America [[DefrostingIceKing gradually defrosts his cold, untrusting exterior]], and his increasing willingness to connect with others pays off in a big way during the climax: [[spoiler:as Amelie -- who Sam has known as his sister -- is revealed to be [[ApocalypseMaiden the final Extinction Entity]], Sam thwarts [[ApocalypseHow the Final Stranding]] by [[SheatheYourSword putting away his guns and hugging her]], convincing her that [[HopeSpringsEternal there's still much for Earth and humanity to live for]] through love and forming connections, successfully delaying the end times.]]

** Sam eventually receives an upgrade to his cuffs that allows him to stealthily cut the cords of [=BTs=] that haven't detected him yet, [[spoiler:conveniently before his BB malfunctions and he's forced to enter BT territory without it.]] The impractical part comes from the fact that BB's crying in response to being near [=BTs=] gives Sam away and completely invalidates the use of the cord-cutters.

At The Game Awards 2022, a {{sequel}} tentatively titled ''Death Stranding 2: On The Beach'' was announced in production for a 2025 release, with Reedus, Seydoux and Baker returning to the cast alongside newcomers Creator/ElleFanning and Shioli Kutsuna, with Creator/GeorgeMiller in a guest starring role. [[https://deadline.com/2022/12/death-stranding-film-from-barbarian-producer-alex-lebovici-in-works-1235200209/ A film adaptation]] is also in the works with Kojima acting as executive producer.

At The Game Awards 2022, a {{sequel}} tentatively titled ''Death Stranding 2'' was announced in production, with Reedus, Seydoux and Baker returning to the cast alongside newcomers Creator/ElleFanning and Shioli Kutsuna. [[https://deadline.com/2022/12/death-stranding-film-from-barbarian-producer-alex-lebovici-in-works-1235200209/ A film adaptation]] is also in the works with Kojima acting as executive producer.