Over the past week, Sony and Hideo Kojima revealed two surprising bits of Death Stranding news: Playing Death Stranding won’t require a PS Plus subscription, and the Bridge Baby can be heard through the Dualshock 4 controller’s speakers. Taking care of the Death Stranding Bridge Baby, or B.B., is one of the game’s central mechanics.
Following a long period of cryptic information, Kojima fans have finally been getting a decent look at Death Stranding’s gameplay, as of late. A 48-minute Tokyo Game Show 2019 showcase gave viewers a look at tons of important Death Stranding gameplay details, including information about its heavy emphasis on stat management and its combat. This followed a leaked Gamescom briefing trailer, which introduced more concrete story goals for protagonist Sam. Death Stranding recently went gold, so its story and gameplay elements are most likely now set in stone, for the most part, ahead of its November 8 release date.
After MP1ST discovered it earlier this week, a particular piece of text from a Game U.K. store listing of the Death Stranding limited edition PS4 Pro began making its way around to several publications. A bright yellow text box in the corner of the limited edition PS4’s packaging reads, “Paid-for PlayStation Plus subscription required for online multiplayer. […] Death Stranding does not require PlayStation Plus subscription.” Some interpreted this to mean that Death Stranding multiplayer won’t require PS Plus, especially given that Death Stranding’s multiplayer will feature Dark Souls-like, indirect assistance from other players. It’s not clear, however, if the PS Plus message indicates that players won’t need PS Plus to experience Death Stranding’s multiplayer elements, or if it simply means the Death Stranding base game itself is playable without PS Plus. Unfortunately, it’s more likely the latter, and the fact that PS Plus is mentioned on the box at all points to that conclusion.
In less complicated but perhaps equally confusing news, Kojima revealed on Twitter that Death Stranding will include the option for players to hear the cries of their B.B. through their PS4 controller’s speakers. While this may be an odd use for the Dualshock 4’s seldom-utilized speakers, it fits perfectly with other baby-related Death Stranding reveals. In the Death Stranding Gamescom 2019 footage, Kojima revealed that players can rock their controller back and forth in order to soothe their B.B. when it gets upset. Paired with the B.B. pod-like special edition controller, the baby noises and controller rocking make a recipe for maximum immersion.
Despite the rumors, it wouldn’t be too surprising if Death Stranding’s multiplayer turned out to require PS Plus. After all, despite its lack of direct interaction, certain elements of Death Stranding’s multiplayer sound ambitious, apparently allowing players to build highways connecting various locations in the game world. Still, anything could be possible in Kojima’s self-proclaimed new game genre.
Next: Hideo Kojima’s Next Game After Death Stranding Might Already Be In Planning Stages
Sources: MP1ST, Hideo Kojima/Twitter
