OneDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachfan took a photo in the canyons of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, only to realize it looks strikingly similar to the desert featured in the game. A lot has already been said about how Kojima Productions managed to achieve photorealism inDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach, and this fan’s photo is a clear example of how impressive the visuals of the game are.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beachwas releaseda few weeks ago on June 26, expanding the original’s delivery-focused gameplay by adding more combat mechanics, vertical traversal, and dynamic disasters, all while maintaining the deep, emotive narrative style of the first game. The sequel unfolds across Australia and Mexico, and it’s packed with photorealistic faces and ultra-high-fidelity environments and landscapes, with realistic lighting, physics-driven terrain, weather effects, and a fluid 60 fps performance on base PS5 that has had the gaming community talking.Death Stranding 2has plenty going for it beyond its visuals, but one fan was just reminded of how jaw-droppingly realistic the game really is.
A Reddit user named PangTemujin went to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California and realized the landscape is shockingly similar to theDeath Stranding 2locationwhere players must deliver the first package. The player said they are convinced that Kojima used that desert (which is near the Mexico border) as inspiration—especially considering Sam’s hideout is located close to the same border. PangTemujin explained they live in the area, and the first time they saw the photorealistic desert in the game, they thought, “that’s my neighborhood.”
Death Stranding 2 Desert Looks Just Like California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
The post sparked a conversation among the game’s community, with many players joining just to praiseDeath Stranding 2’s visuals. One fan said they often camp off-road in Anza-Borrego, and the similarities with the desert in the game felt “surreal.” Another fan left a comment saying, “I lived near there briefly as a child and had flashbacks for real.” While there is no official confirmation that Kojima actually recreated the California desert, the photos bear such a close resemblance to the game’s that it seems very likely.
With its visuals, gameplay, and captivating story,Death Stranding 2managed to takeClair Obscure’s spot as the highest-ratedgame on PlayStation’s storefront, with an average of 4.92 stars from 21,735 ratings. Game Director Hideo Kojima celebrated the game’s success with a heartfelt message on social media directed at fans and the team behind it.
