Kojima Productions says the Death Stranding series has passed 28 million players, announcing the milestone on the original game’s seventh anniversary. VGTimes reports that the studio marked the day with commemorative posters and a message from Hideo Kojima. The game first launched on PlayStation 4 on 8 November 2019.
The 28 million counts players rather than copies sold, so it takes in anyone who has played through a purchase, a subscription service or a free giveaway. VGTimes says the total covers Death Stranding, Death Stranding Director’s Cut and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and that Kojima Productions hasn’t split it by game or platform. That leaves open how much the sequel contributed against the original’s long tail of discounts and bundles.
From 20 million to 28 million
The pace has slowed since the sequel’s launch window. Kojima Productions put the original at 20 million players as of 31 March 2025, a figure PC Gamer covered at the time. VGChartz reports that the studio announced 27 million in late July 2026, which means the series added roughly seven million players over about 16 months. The jump to 28 million came around three and a half months later.
Much of that reach comes from how the game has been distributed. According to VGTimes, the original reached PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S after its PS4 debut, joined PC Game Pass, and was given away through the Epic Games Store. Those routes brought in players who never bought a copy, and the same count is why the number can’t be read as a sales total. The first game is now also playable on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and through Amazon Luna.
The platform spread has shifted for the sequel as well. VGTimes says Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launched on PlayStation 5 in 2025 and reached PC in March 2026. An Xbox version hasn’t been announced, although a rumour about a port traces back to a store listing.
A studio that keeps the franchise in view
Kojima has spent the year in the spotlight for more than player counts. He recently voiced a character in a My Chemical Romance stop-motion short, and he has talked about the industry’s shift away from physical media, saying cloud gaming worries him more than PlayStation dropping discs. The anniversary posters keep attention on the series between releases. For a game that critics and players split over at launch, 28 million people having tried it is a long way from where the conversation started in 2019.
Does 28 million mean Death Stranding sold 28 million copies?
No. Kojima Productions counts players, which includes people who accessed the games through PC Game Pass or claimed the free Epic Games Store giveaway. The last copies-sold figure VGTimes cites is 5 million, from March 2021.
Which platforms can I play Death Stranding on?
According to VGTimes, the original runs on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, iPhone, iPad, Mac and Amazon Luna. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is on PlayStation 5 and PC. We couldn’t confirm UAE-specific pricing or store availability for this story.
Where do I start if I’m new to the series?
Start with the first game, or its Director’s Cut, because Death Stranding 2: On the Beach continues the story. The original is the one that has spread furthest across platforms, so it’s likely to be available on whatever you already own.
