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Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99View Prime Day Deals Donkey Kong Bananza Switch 2 stock Recommended reading Open World Games 70 hours in, Death Stranding 2 is one of few open world games that justifies having such a huge map Action Games "I almost gave up": Hideo Kojima on looking into the abyss, Death Stranding 2's Australian setting, working with his idols, and connecting with koalas Adventure Games 6 years too late, I bring lukewarm takes: Death Stranding rules, and we should all play more games outside of our comfort zone Action Games I'm glad the heatwave is over, because if it wasn't I'd think I hallucinated these weird Death Stranding 2 moments, from dancing dolls to sci-fi directors fighting while making pizza Open World Games Death Stranding 2 hands-on: An emphasis on combat and vehicles feels like an evolution of Metal Gear Solid 5, while continuing to push the first game's in-depth hiking physicality Action Games Death Stranding 2 was written before the pandemic, but illness and isolation had a heavy impact on Hideo Kojima and pushed him toward games that "don't already exist in the world" Action Games You may not like it, but peak Death Stranding performance is this incredible road that took 5 hours to make Open World Games Death Stranding 2 I thought Kojima filmed Death Stranding 2's opening sequence in my Arizona backyard, and now that people are confusing pictures of a real-life desert for screenshots, I know I haven't lost my marbles Jordan Gerblick 10 July 2025 "Safe to say Kojima Productions managed to achieve photo realism with DS2" When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Sony) My first time playing Death Stranding 2, I'm no longer ashamed to admit I thought it might've been a live-action shot of a deserted region close to my real-life home of Phoenix, Arizona. I'm not afraid to admit that because people online are confusing images of a real-life desert in Mexico for Death Stranding 2 screenshots. (For the uninitiated, I live in the same Sonoran desert that stretches throughout northwestern Mexico and southwestern United States.) Redditor PangTemujin shared a series of real-life pictures they took exploring the majestic canyons of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near the Mexico border in southern California, and says they're "convinced Kojima" used the locale as inspiration for Death Stranding 2. And indeed, the shots look very similar to the opening area where you deliver your first package in the game. You may like 70 hours in, Death Stranding 2 is one of few open world games that justifies having such a huge map "I almost gave up": Hideo Kojima on looking into the abyss, Death Stranding 2's Australian setting, working with his idols, and connecting with koalas 6 years too late, I bring lukewarm takes: Death Stranding rules, and we should all play more games outside of our comfort zone So similar, in fact, that several commenters admitted they mistook the shots for Death Stranding 2 screenshots. Sam’s house is down there somewhere from r/DeathStranding "This game is so wild that as I quick scrolled through, I thought these were screenshots. Like 'yeah cool same intro I watched and people have posted a million times, whatever' "And then it hit me," replied Arachnid1 in the post's top reply with 254 upvotes at the time of writing. "Which is which," said a Twitter user reacting to the same images. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. "Safe to say Kojima Productions managed to achieve photo realism with DS2," said the Twitter user who shared the images. As someone who does a lot of hiking in similar-looking vistas in Arizona, I completely relate with PangTemujin thinking instinctively, "that's my neighborhood!" when playing the first part of Death Stranding 2. Even the monsoon that strikes the area shortly after is extremely familiar to anyone who's spent a lot of time in the region. Of course, the rest of Death Stranding 2's map isn't nearly as reminiscent of the arid Sonoran desert as you explore a more tropical region of the map clearly inspired by the more central parts of Mexico and then travel over to Australia, but those first couple of hours are a surreal treat for desert dwellers. 70 hours in, Death Stranding 2 is one of few open world games that justifies having such a huge map See more PS5 News Hideo Kojima PlayStation Jordan Gerblick Social Links Navigation After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. 70 hours in, Death Stranding 2 is one of few open world games that justifies having such a huge map "I almost gave up": Hideo Kojima on looking into the abyss, Death Stranding 2's Australian setting, working with his idols, and connecting with koalas 6 years too late, I bring lukewarm takes: Death Stranding rules, and we should all play more games outside of our comfort zone I'm glad the heatwave is over, because if it wasn't I'd think I hallucinated these weird Death Stranding 2 moments, from dancing dolls to sci-fi directors fighting while making pizza Death Stranding 2 hands-on: An emphasis on combat and vehicles feels like an evolution of Metal Gear Solid 5, while continuing to push the first game's in-depth hiking physicality Death Stranding 2 was written before the pandemic, but illness and isolation had a heavy impact on Hideo Kojima and pushed him toward games that "don't already exist in the world" Latest in Open World Games Reducing the "burden" of open-world games, Ghost of Yotei replaces Ghost of Tsushima’s journal menu with a "wolf pack" of important characters that meet you under the stars: "The game comes to you" Sucker Punch says "the best way to play" Ghost of Yotei is to "find something interesting on the horizon and enjoy the ride," and thankfully since Breath of the Wild that's the only way I play open-world games Ghost of Yotei "isn't going to rush you through anything" and "focuses on player freedom more than any game Sucker Punch has ever made," with clues and activities for all play styles “Some open-world games can make it feel like you’re not really exploring, you’re just traveling”: A Short Hike creator says finding “unique” ways of rewarding players is key, which Dark Souls and Breath of the Wild nailed Assassin's Creed and Far Cry veteran didn't want the "feeling Kojima's going for in Death Stranding" in his new open-world game: "We want dense, joy-filled nuggets" The Genshin Impact community is on fire after HoYoverse dropped a nuclear lore trailer on a random Wednesday midnight: "Do you think she will be playable?" Latest in News Gorgeous limited edition Ghost of Yotei PS5 consoles and controllers draw inspiration from traditional Japanese art and "one of the core aspects within the game" Reducing the "burden" of open-world games, Ghost of Yotei replaces Ghost of Tsushima’s journal menu with a "wolf pack" of important characters that meet you under the stars: "The game comes to you" Sucker Punch says "the best way to play" Ghost of Yotei is to "find something interesting on the horizon and enjoy the ride," and thankfully since Breath of the Wild that's the only way I play open-world games Ghost of Yotei "isn't going to rush you through anything" and "focuses on player freedom more than any game Sucker Punch has ever made," with clues and activities for all play styles Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa goes hardcore with historical action in the new trailer for Apple TV+ passion project Chief of War Subnautica 2 publisher says the studio's previous game was a "failure" – a strategy game that's nothing like Subnautica and peaked at under 1,000 Steam players GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy" Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse" Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic" Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat" FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special" Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU" Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber" M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion" 28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy” Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation" Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever" Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era" Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date" Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling" Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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