Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions have officially released the sequel to Death Stranding with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Death Stranding upon its initial release was a massive hit and one of the most unique entries into the video game space with its fascinating storytelling and of course, the BB Pod which was a real conversation driver online. Kojima Productions have picked up where they left off with Death Stranding 2, where you are now tasked with extending the Chiral Network to Mexico and beyond. Not only will you be venturing into a whole new terrain, but there are several new mechanics, companions, and plenty of new tools to help you on your way. Another new addition to Death Stranding 2 that was not a part of the first game is the introduction of wildlife, which can now be rescued and released to an animal sanctuary.

One of the biggest changes that you will encounter in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is the combat system, which has been overhauled to give players more variation from the more stealth-focused gameplay in Death Stranding 1. Now when you enter combat you will be able to defend yourself in a whole new way with blocking, counterattacks, and rushing an unexpected enemy and hitting them with a flying kick. Death Stranding 2 has also introduced several new tools and weapons with specific damage types so it will be important to do your research on the enemy to know which weapons to bring on a delivery to maximize damage. One of my favorite new additions in Death Stranding 2 is the Tranq Sniper Rifle, which rewards accuracy with instant knockouts for headshots but body shots may take a bit longer to affect enemies. Stealth has also received a few updates and instead of having to equip a tool for stealth takedowns, now all you have to do is approach an enemy from behind and press O to take them out or just tie them up.

Optimize Your Journey in Death Stranding 2 with The Best Settings

Before you dive into Death Stranding 2 I have a few recommended tips for you to better optimize your settings. These tips will give you more control over your accuracy when in combat, better vision for unexpected ambushes or BTs, and overall improve your gameplay. As you traverse across the land in Death Stranding 2 you will encounter several obstacles that will require a level of transversal precision to overcome, lowering the control sensitivity for balance will give you more leeway for slippage or overcorrecting. There are also various settings you can change for camera sensitivity and aiming but you will want to mainly focus on the vertical and horizontal speeds to find what works best for your gameplay style. Another important setting to change from default that can immediately improve your gameplay is the “Minimum Button Hold Duration” in your controls setting. Lowering this will allow you to take less time when having to hold a button for interactions, which means you can speed up the time it takes to activate a tool or interaction during a time-sensitive delivery or combat.

For those who have played Death Stranding 1, you may want to spend time remapping your controller to better suit your playstyle or change things to a similar layout as the first game. There are plenty of new mechanics in Death Stranding 2 so it may be worth it to try the game with default controller settings before making changes. Vibration intensity is something I would recommend testing out as there are five different variations of intensity so there may be an option aside from “off” that you may like more. For quicker and sharper movements you may want to move up the speeds but can also turn off Auto-Center to have more control of your camera angle, this can help you when peaking around corners or during stealth missions.

Improve Gameplay Performance, Precision, and Accuracy with KontrolFreeks

In Death Stranding 2 you will experience much more combat than in Death Stranding 1, and even during stealth mode, certain takedown mechanics and tranquilizers require much more precision. To make sure you are giving yourself the best advantage you will want to try out KontrolFreek’s Galaxy Performance Thumbsticks, one of the most versatile thumbsticks offered. From the mixed height pair of thumbsticks (mid-rise & high rise) you will be ready for anything Death Stranding 2 throws at you, experiencing an increased range of motion from the high-rise thumbstick to improve accuracy and precision. For those newer to KontrolFreeks I would recommend you adjust your sensitivity after attaching them to your controller so you can have a true feel for the added range of motion and more precise movements when aiming. As you adjust both your camera and controller

You also gain much-needed surface area and added traction for your thumbs as both thumbsticks offer a concave design with new improved proprietary rubber material for extra grip and comfort. This versatile combo will allow you to be prepared for challenging transversal environments, precision stealth missions, and any type of combat as the dual heights are built for an action RPG such as Death Stranding 2. The close-quarter combat and ability to snipe targets from afar play into the strength of the Galaxy Performance Thumbsticks as you will benefit from both heights attached to your thumbsticks. Lastly, the all-black colorway matches the aesthetic of Death Stranding 2 but there are 4 colors to choose from Black, Purple, Crystal, and White so depending on how you like to customize your controller there are plenty of options.

Top Skills & Stats to Level Up First to Gain an Early Advantage

One of the unique features in Death Stranding 2 is your ability to level up Sam’s stats throughout your gameplay. Each aspect affects a specific skill or ability that will gradually improve as you level up, but some are more valuable early game. Since traveling across the country is the main focus of the game it will be important to focus on leveling up your carrying capacity, terrain transversal, and endurance first. These stats will be the foundation of your gameplay and knowing you can carry what you need or escape a risky situation will take you far in the game.

Next will be combat, as you continue to progress through the game more enemies will be introduced, and avoiding combat in general becomes harder. I recommend focusing on a single weapon type, as you level up to maximize your survival chances by improving reload speed, reticle sway, and recoil. This will allow you to master proficiency the quickest without putting you at a disadvantage as you begin to face more difficult enemies. Once you have maxed out a specific weapon you can then start to level up the others depending on what style of play you are going for, if you want to be more combat heavy prioritizing assault rifles or machine guns is the way to go. For those looking for a stealthier playstyle, you may want to prioritize leveling up your APAS Enhancements. These are catered to your playstyle and will allow for enhancements like Proximity Scanner and Noise Canceler to spot enemies and drop them without anyone noticing. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Death Stranding 2 On The Beach is the game caters to your playstyle and the more you play a specific way the faster you will level up and unlock what you need to succeed.