Death Stranding Finally Arrives On Xbox Series X, At $20 (original) (raw)

As the date of _Death Stranding_’s fifth anniversary sits hours from ticking over in Japan, the former PlayStation exclusive has been surprise-released on the Xbox Series X/S! And at the same time, it’s half-price, meaning you can now pick up Hideo Kojima’s adored falling over simulator for $20.

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Originally released for PlayStation 4 in November, 2019, Death Stranding, it was widely considered a bizarre masterpiece. _Kotaku_’s review said it was “stupid, and obvious, and perfect,” a game that was about everything from fatherhood to American politics to “throwing grenades made from your own piss and shit at ghosts.” It was also a game about being a delivery guy who struggles to stand up on hills.

There was, as has become mostly typical of late, a PC version released eight months later, and then in September 2021 came a whole new version of the game called Death Stranding: The Director’s Cut. Once again, this was a PlayStation console exclusive, with a PC release, and—rather bizarrely considering—inclusion in Game Pass For PC. But still, nothing on Xbox.

It's the widdle baby from Death Stranding.

Screenshot: Kojima Productions / Kotaku

However, with the game’s fifth birthday arriving, it seems very likely some sort of exclusivity deal has expired, meaning the game was able to be surprise-launched on Xbox overnight. It’s the Director’s Cut version, and as mentioned, it’s half-price for the next couple of weeks. That deal extends to PC and PS5 too.

In a press release, creator Hideo Kojima wrote, “It is my pleasure to finally announce that Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be delivered to Xbox players. I would like to thank all the fans who have stayed connected with us as well as everyone in the Xbox community who have been patiently waiting.”

The game’s not in Game Pass...yet. You know Microsoft will want it in there, so it’s a gamble if you wanna hold out and hope.

Meanwhile, Kojima Productions is currently mid-development of the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, hopefully out next year, as well as in pre-production for a movie based on the first game. Alongside everything else Hideo Kojima is currently working on.

Oh, and it’s also out on Amazon Luna, I guess?