Released on June 26, 2025 on the PlayStation 5, Death Stranding 2 is surpassing all expectations and is on track to outpace the first game in terms of critical reception and units sold.
As of the moment of writing, Death Stranding holds an average score of 90 on Metacritic. It's the fourth-highest rated new release this year. However, it's also the only game of the four that's drawing legit comparisons to GTA 6.
After Rockstar wowed the internet with the release of the second GTA 6 trailer, which reportedly was rendered on a base PlayStation 5, Death Stranding 2 is matching it in terms of graphics.
Death Stranding 2 is delivering what many are calling the most cinematically realistic experience ever created for a gaming console. The game's use of the Decima Engine creates environments so detailed that screenshots are being mistaken for real photographs.
Every blade of grass moves naturally in the wind, volumetric fog rolls through valleys with uncanny realism, and character models display emotions with a subtlety previously reserved for Hollywood blockbusters.
Kojima Productions has always been about pushing artistic boundaries and creating experiences that blur the line between games and cinema. The studio's focus on emotional storytelling and atmospheric immersion is perfectly served by the hyper-detailed, concentrated approach they're taking.
With a year still left to go for the release of GTA 6, we can only wonder how much better the game could look by the time it comes out around this time next year.
And while Rockstar will never admit to this, seeing Death Stranding 2 squeeze out as much from the PS5 will encourage them to find ways to do the same.
Remember that competition drives innovation, and having multiple studios pushing each other to new heights can only benefit players.
