Death Stranding 2 x Hololive: A Surprise Collaboration

GAMING NEWS Daniel-D - 05-Jun-2025, 1:11 pm

Hideo Kojima's upcoming title, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, set to release on June 26, 2025, features a unique collaboration with Hololive VTuber Usada Pekora. In this sequel, Pekora appears as a "Prepper"—a solitary character who may assist or hinder the protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, during his journey.

Kojima's inclusion of Pekora aligns with his history of integrating diverse personalities into his games, such as Conan O'Brien and Geoff Keighley in the original Death Stranding. While specific details about Pekora's role remain undisclosed, it's speculated that her in-game presence may involve anime-themed elements or quirky side missions. This collaboration stems from Kojima's evident appreciation for Pekora's content. He has previously shared images of her merchandise at his workspace and acknowledged watching her streams. Pekora also visited Kojima Productions, further fueling speculation about her involvement in the game.

This collaboration with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach marks another appearance of Hololive's idols on the gaming stage, in a total of 11 times. In 2024, Earth Defense Force 6 (EDF6) collaborated with Hololive to introduce Hololive's Idols: Gawr Gura, Takanashi Kiara, and IRyS in Western release, Shirakami Fubuki, Nakiri Ayame, and Ookami Mio in the Japanese version.

It is also predicted that this event also a major reputational gain for Hololive and Cover Corp as Kojima’s endorsement acts as an implicit stamp of cultural legitimacy, especially in the West, where VTubers still exist primarily within niche fandoms. By including Pekora as an in-game character—not just a cameo or Easter egg—Kojima is treating her as a mainstream media personality, not just a YouTube avatar. Lastly, this collaboration may help normalize VTubers in AAA gaming circles, leading to more collabs with major developers.

This collaboration is surely a piece of exciting news for both Hideo's fans and Hololive's fans. If you are a fan of one of them or both, we suggest checking out our comparison website for the best prices on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach