The is bringing back the original antagonist, Higgs Monaghan, but the character will have an even more pronounced role in the sequel. Developer Hideo Kojima confirmed that he will be 100 times better and wilder than ever in a recent interview at the SXSW 2025 .
In a YouTube video by Kojima Productions, which has the whole 45-minute , Kojima mentions how players will want to chuck their controllers away at the end of the game after discovering how ridiculous and depraved Higgs's character is. Kojima also then goes on to mention other details about Death Stranding 2, including the music and sound score done by French music director Woodkid.
Kojima Claims Higgs Will Be Even More Ridiculous In Death Stranding 2
Not Twice Or Thrice Better, 100 Times Better
Higgs Monaghan was first introduced in Death Stranding 1 as an associate of the Fragile Express before he met Amelie, then became the leader of a militant separatist group, Homo Demens. He is one of the primary antagonists of the game, with the ultimate goal to accelerate the Last Stranding, an event that could end all life on earth. At the end of the game, players have the power to determine Higgs's fate, but it seems that no matter what players choose, he is making a comeback.
Higgs's return could mean he's back as an antagonist, especially since Kojima mentions in the interview that his character will raise the bar, stating, "But Higgs is not a normal villain. He’s a loved character. So I thought I would raise two, three steps higher for this character,”.
He's also seen in the new 10-minute trailer having a menacing Joker-like smile as he sneers into the camera. There also seems to be a tentacle popping out of his mouth at one point, which seems both weird and slightly sinister. His role in the new game is yet to be seen, but given that he is a beloved character from the previous title, it will be interesting to see how he becomes a major part of Death Stranding 2.
The New Death Stranding 2 Trailer Reveals More Details About The Game
New And Returning Characters Will Grace Your Screen
The 10-minute trailer had a lot to show, including other returning characters like Léa Seydoux's Fragile, a potential love interest for main character Sam, and of course, the beloved Lou, a bridge baby from the prequel. New characters are coming too, including Neil, played by Luca Marinelli, who is a smuggler in Death Stranding 2.
Every Actor In Death Stranding 2 (& What You Know Them From)
Although not all characters in the recently-announced Death Stranding 2 have been revealed, the known cast list has both new and returning actors.
Right now, the release date for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is set for June 26, and players can expect an action-packed storyline where Sam Porter will once again head out to save humankind from extinction — the second time's the charm.
Source: Kojima Productions/YouTube, Kojima Productions/YouTube
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
- Decima
- Franchise
- Death Stranding
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
- June 26, 2025
