Thoughts and Theories on Kojima’s New Death Stranding Clue

Death Stranding is continuing its run as one of the most mysterious titles in development by staying out of the year’s biggest video game conference, E3. Hideo Kojima broke the news on Twitter this morning, saying, “Apologies to our fans, Death Stranding will not be @ E3 as we are fully focused on development.”

Although his latest project won’t be there, Kojima himself will appear at E3 with Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who is working on a Metal Gear Solid film. The two will be on an E3 Coliseum panel on June 14th.

Kojima also used the tweet to reveal a new poster/ teaser for Death Stranding, pictured below. The image shows a spiderweb in the shape of a star, the word “BRIDGES,” and the game title at the bottom.

This image might not seem familiar unless you’re already down the rabbit hole with other Kojima followers — or you paid reaaaally close attention to Death Stranding’s The Game Awards 2016 trailer.

In that video, director Guillermo del Toro’s character dons a pin of the contiguous United States with a spiderweb spreading outward from the east coast. The pin also says “BRIDGES” in the same font as on the poster, as well as the phrase “United Cities of America.” Check out the close up below.

So what does it all mean? Of course no one can be sure at this point, but boy do we love to speculate about Kojima’s bizarre clues.

First of all, the only real pieces of information we have about Death Stranding are some celebrity-based characters and the game’s genre — open-world action. Known characters include the likenesses of actor Norman Reedus, actor Mads Mikkelsen, and director Guillermo del Toro. The little we have seen of Death Stranding looks post-apocalyptic and eerie as hell, and these recent clues are already giving me the heebie jeebies.

My current speculations fall in the corrupt government/ underground organization realms. The web on del Toro’s pin seems to begin around the Washington, D.C. vicinity and spreads across the country. The star web on the new poster features a bold outline in the shape of a pentagon — possibly The Pentagon?

In the TGA Death Stranding trailer, del Toro’s character is carrying a pod with a baby inside through the sludge and debris of a war-torn city. He seems to be nervous and avoids being spotted by the armed soldiers walking on the road above him.

Maybe BRIDGES is an organization that spans across the country — the “United Cities of America” — that developed some type of advanced medical technology the militant government is after.

One Redditor has also speculated del Toro’s character is part of a secret organization “that specializes in building (metaphorical) bridges. Bridges across time/space. Bridges between consciousness.”

Or maybe Jeff Bridges has been confirmed for Death Stranding. Who’s to say?

What’s your opinion on all these Kojima clues, man?

Death Stranding is currently in development for PS4. No release date has been announced.

Keep checking back with A9K for the latest.