In the original Death Stranding, you’re asked to enter your birthday before you can start delivering parcels across what’s left of America. It might seem like an odd detail, but it means that if you log in on that exact date, you’ll find a slice of cake and a little note in your bedroom, followed by a cutscene where Madds Mikkelsen wishes you happy birthday in the most unnerving way possible.
Keeping with tradition, Death Stranding 2 also asks you for your birthday, so that Hideo Kojima can have the cast come together to celebrate. For one lucky player, that happened to coincide with the game’s release date: July 26.
Charlie Ruins The Cake, But Don’t Worry: Troy Baker Has Pizza
u/Traditional_Solid457 was kind enough to share the cutscene with the community, and while it’s not nearly as creepy as the first game, it’s a little strange to be ripped away from Sam Porter Bridges and revealed as the ambiguous, never-before-seen ‘Someone’, who you experience the birthday through entirely in first-person.
It begins with you creeping up the stairs into the darkened cockpit where you can clearly see characters hiding behind chairs, ready to jump out with a big ol’ surprise. Sam is the last to appear, giving you a thumbs up, and then Heartman whips out the cake, only for Charlie to send it flying.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Someone, happy birthday to you!
Thankfully, Troy ‘Higgs’ Baker is here to save the day, waltzing up with a pizza in hand. The whole crew sings you happy birthday in what frankly feels like a threat, but you don’t get to blow out the candles: Sam hogs all the glory before whipping out a second thumbs up and whacking the pizza to the ground. But hey, you got a happy birthday from Norman Reedus himself, who can complain?
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
4.5/5
- Released
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June 26, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
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Decima
- Franchise
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Death Stranding
- Number of Players
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Single-player
