Summary
Death Stranding 2: On the Beachdirector Hideo Kojima has revealed that the Magellan Man statue available in the game’s Collector’s Edition was originally planned to feature Sam Porter Bridges as well. The details aboutDeath Stranding 2’s different editions were recently revealed, alongside a new trailer, at the SXSW 2025 event.
After months of anticipation, fans of 2019’sDeath Strandingwere finally treated to a brand-new look at its sequel, which is scheduled to hit the shelves on July 20, 2025. The trailer showcased certain intriguing characters, from new faces like Neil to returning foes like Higgs, and shed light on the PS5 exclusive’s release information and special editions. Among the major highlights ofDeath Stranding 2’s Collector’s Edition are the 15-inch Magellan Man statue and the 3-inch Dollman figurine, items inspired by two characters that also made an appearance in the newly released video. Kojima, who has been actively discussing the trailer’s content on social media since its arrival, recently shared a certain small but key attribute of the Magellan Man statue that was changed later on.
In a Twitter post, Kojima gave fans a look at the first sketch of the Magellan Man statue and said thatDeath Stranding’s protagonist, Sam, was initially planned to be on the structure’s left hand. From the looks of it, a small-scale version of the porter was meant to feature as part of the model before the idea was scrapped. The renowned game director added that the decision to omit Sam was made because the detail was “too small” to be incorporated into the statue. In another post, he shared that the Collector’s Edition item was designed by Entei Ryu, who was also behind the aforementioned sketch, under the “full supervision” of Kojima’s longtime partner and frequentMetal Gearcollaborator Yoji Shinkawa. The accompanying pictures showed a glimpse of the early versions of the Magellan Man statue, which the director labeled as the “product of KJP’s spirit and soul.”
Hideo Kojima Reveals Initial Plans for Death Stranding 2’s Collector’s Edition Statue
While a tiny Sam would have made for a neat detail on the Magellan Man statue, the call to ditch the same seems innocuous given that the original sketch shows it was only intended as a minute addition to the overall look. Going by Magellan Man’s impressions so far, which has seen fans compare the mech that forms its head to Metal Gear Rex, it may be safe to say that the mysterious giant has managed to grab the attention of the community regardless. Another part of the trailer that has captivated the fans is the Solid Snake-esque look of Neil, which could be seen as anod to Kojima’sMetal Gear-associated history.
Even though there’s not enough official information aboutDeath Stranding 2’s Neilso far, certain distinct moments from the trailer suggest that his role may be similar to the one Cliff played in the first game. As the release date for Kojima’s new game draws closer, fans can expect to learn more about this fascinating new character, played by Italian actor Luca Marinelli, which certainly shares a similarity or two with theMetal Gear Solidprotagonist.
