Hideo Kojima’s original Death Stranding featured a roster of digitized celebrities portraying in-game Preppers, including industry figures like Geoff Keighley and Hermen Hulst. The sequel continues this tradition but faces unexpected demand from public figures seeking inclusion.

Interest surged to such levels that Kojima Productions reportedly declined numerous requests due to technical limitations, with each scanned Prepper requiring approximately 15 minutes of development time. Voice lines for select characters further extended production demands (via Genki).

Nearly 50% of applicants were ultimately excluded from Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, yet confirmed cameos include Japanese virtual personality Usada Pekora, filmmaker Mamoru Oshii, and musician Daichi Miura. Speculation suggests appearances by director S. S. Rajamouli and returning talk-show host Conan O’Brien (via Game Rant).

While future trailers might reveal additional collaborators, Kojima’s history of concealed reveals implies some celebrity integrations may remain undisclosed until launch.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach launches June 26, 2025, as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Previous franchise entries eventually expanded to PC platforms post-launch.