'Death Stranding' release date rumors, updates: Game to launch in 2017?; will be an open-world action title

Title screencap of the upcoming video game "Death Stranding" as seen in its trailerKojima Productions

Hideo Kojima has revealed new details regarding "Death Stranding," the first new game he has worked on after departing from Konami. According to Kojima, the game is set to be some sort of open-world action game but on a different scale when compared to "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain."

According to Gamespot, Kojima gave a special presentation during the Sony Conference held before the official opening of the Tokyo Game Show. During this presentation, it was confirmed that the game is a PlayStation 4 exclusive, and Kojima took some of his time to explain the title's meaning and significance to the game.

The term "death stranding" often refers to dolphins or whales washing up dead on a shore. "Live stranding" is an instance where the animals can still be saved and sent back to the sea. According to Kojima, as reported by Wired UK, the game's title does refer to something from another world getting stranded in the human world.

However, he also explained it meant something deeper. Kojima elaborated that one of the themes of the game was how people were connected by certain strands, and this serves as the main interpretation of the game's title. He then explained the game will have online elements and that he wanted players to be connected using these "strands."

It is further pointed out by Kojima that while the game will have a certain "degree of freedom," it won't be on the same scale or even in the same style as "Metal Gear Solid V" and will instead be implemented in a different manner. He did want to point out that even a small indie studio like the one he currently has can make high-quality AAA games.

Polygon also points out that an image was displayed in the background during the presentation. The image showcases Kojima and Norman Reedus, who portrays the main character in the game, but it also showcases Guillermo del Toro, indicating the film director may be involved.

A fourth person is shown in the image, and fans have speculated it to be actor Mads Mikkelsen, who has been rumored to have a role in the game, although this has not been confirmed yet.

Kojima will return for a more in-depth presentation at the Tokyo Game Show this Sept. 18, and fans speculate he may announce when the game will be released, presumably in 2017.