The influence of Grand Theft Auto 6 on the video game industry is no longer a secret, and Hideo Kojima, the legendary Japanese game director, has just formalized that the release of Death Stranding 2 has been modified to avoid confrontation with the Rockstar Games franchise. In a recent program of A Hideo Kojima Radio, the creator revealed that GTA 6 had a major impact on the calendar of his game, initially scheduled for September 2025. Indeed, Kojima revealed that his team had initially considered an outing in September 2025 for Death Stranding 2, but that this date was questioned because of the potential conflict game. “If GTA 6 was announced for November, all the other games would move away,” added Kojima, illustrating the power of this franchise which, according to him, resembles a cinema blockbuster whose other productions must move to avoid being crushed.
The news of the release of Death Stranding 2 in June 2025 is therefore a strategic choice, allowing Kojima to maximize the visibility of the game without finding himself lost in the wake of GTA 6. The impact of GTA 6 on the calendar of outings does not only concern Kojima. In his show, he explained that many studios and publishers are looking to avoid exit dates that would find themselves in direct competition with blockbusters like GTA. “Imagine that a film as a mission is impossible in May. No other film would be released at the same time. It’s the same in video games,” he said, stressing the extent of the IT 60 on industry’s impact.
Despite the postponement of GTA May 6 to 26, 2026, Kojima Productions maintains the summer release of Death Stranding 2. This choice also allows Sony to space out its big outings, with a marathon scheduled for September and Ghost of Yotei in October.