Death Stranding 2 is bigger and more ambitious — and that includes its music

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an expansive, captivating sequel filled with huge environments to explore and a big story from Hideo Kojima to try and wrap your head around. But one of my favorite additions is a small one: an in-game music player that basically functions as your own iPod. Woodkid, a co-composer […]

Jun 25, 2025 - 13:30

Death Stranding 2 is bigger and more ambitious — and that includes its music

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an expansive, captivating sequel filled with huge environments to explore and a big story from Hideo Kojima to try and wrap your head around. But one of my favorite additions is a small one: an in-game music player that basically functions as your own iPod.

Woodkid, a co-composer on the game (and whose real name is Yoann Lemoine), tells The Verge that the music player was important to Kojima because it's "the way Hideo is in everyday life… He plays songs all the time." (And posts about songs on social media, too.) "I think he wanted the players to be able to have the same experience," Woodkid says.

Music was a big part of the original game. Some of my favorite moments from the first Death Stranding took place when songs from artists like Low Roar, Silent Poets, and Woodkid kicked in while exploring the game's world. That still happens a lot in Death Stranding 2, and it's just as effective at setting a mood. But with the personal music player, accessible right from the pause menu, you can create your own vibe as you're traversing the game's expansive environments.

Woodkid worked with Kojima for three years to make music for DS2. In the game, hi …

Read the full story at The Verge.