Death Stranding 2, like all Kojima games, is an event that has everyone talking. Its world and gameplay are indeed unique. They’re quite divisive, and either you love it or you don’t. We tested the first game in 2019. Has it changed in terms of accessibility? It was necessarily with hesitation that we embarked upon this sequel, and we’re going to tell you all about it!

Type	Action
Publisher	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer	Kojima Productions
Release Date	June 26, 2025
Age Rating	18 years and over

Key points according to accessibility type

Moteur	Visuel	Auditif	Cognitif
• No remapping and all keys used • Numerous key combos and long holds Need for fine motor skills Fine adjustment of joysticks by activity	Interface not easily visible No screen reader No color management	A single, spatialized sound source Scan allows you to mark enemies Poor-quality subtitles	Effective (but late) virtual training Complex route planning Text-heavy menus

Like in the first game, you’ll play the role of Sam Porter, a courier with unique abilities, in a world devastated by the Death Stranding Event, where the living and the necrotized dead co-exist.

Gameplay remains much the same, based mainly on carrying heavy loads through a hostile world. There are enemies to avoid or fight, but the main task is to stay on your feet to protect your precious cargo. Going from city to city, you’ll need to reconnect people, literally and figuratively.

However, we quickly realized that the task will be complex for many players with disabilities. In fact, the lack of remapping, many frequent combos and long button holds, and a critical need for balance and precision all combine to create the perfect storm for game usability.  This is particularly true for those with physical disabilities, of course, but not only.

The world is ultra-realistic and detailed and the interface is displayed as if in augmented reality. However, there are virtually no visual aids. So, it’s totally unplayable, as you’ll see in the test with Ethan. The road to Mexico and Australia will therefore be perilous, if not impossible for most of you!

Our Opinion

We had hoped for a change after six years, but Death Stranding 2: On The Beach remains in line with its predecessor. Accessibility aids are rare. What’s more, they are sometimes poorly integrated into the game.

Gameplay is very demanding in terms of fine motor control, since the slightest pebble can cause you to tumble down a slope and lose your precious cargo.

However, there’s nothing to help you, not even on the hearing-disability front, for there’s only one single spatialized soundtrack, and subtitles don’t have opaque backgrounds.

Our score is therefore definitive, and it was one of the few game sessions where it became impossible for Ethan to play as he streamed his gameplay.