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That's why there's no "Death Stranding 2" test from us
by Philipp Rüegg
Death Stranding 2, GTA 6 and The Witcher 4: the current console generation is finally picking up speed
26.6.2025
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Pictures: Domagoj Belancic
Death Stranding 2 is a visual stunner. It’s been a long time coming, but it finally feels like the power of the PS5 is actually being used. And with GTA 6 and The Witcher 4 on the horizon, things are about to get even more spectacular.
The current console generation is strange. Yes, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are many times more powerful on paper than their predecessors. But how many games that truly blew us away visually have actually been released so far? Games where you say to yourself: «Wow, this wouldn’t have been possible on the PS4.»
I can’t think of any such wow moment – at least not to the extent that I’m used to from previous console generations. This is also due to the fact that many PS5 games released to date – both by Sony and third-party manufacturers – are cross-gen. Titles such as Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarök and Gran Turismo 7 are all great titles, but they also run as «worse» versions on the PS4.
The few PS5-exclusive releases such as Astro Bot or Spider-Man 2 do look impressive, no question. But they also lack that, «Wow, this wouldn’t have been possible on the PS4» factor. On the Xbox, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 offered stunning graphics, but with major limitations in terms of gameplay.
Source: Sony
With Death Stranding 2, Sony is releasing a title that truly feels next-gen for the first time. A game from Kojima Productions that was developed for the power of the PS5, without the limitations of the PS4. It took a long time, almost five years. But my patience is rewarded with a visually stunning technical showcase that also has a lot to offer in terms of gameplay.
Note: we’re not ready to publish a full review of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach yet. Phil explains why in this article:
Death Stranding 2 is just damn pretty
The intro sequence alone knocks my socks off. I walk with Sam and his stolen baby along a mountain ridge to my shelter. And I can’t believe my eyes. There’s so much detail on the screen. Endless small rocks around me, and incredibly detailed rendered stone formations far away.
The first Death Stranding set the bar very high in terms of depicting rocky, expansive landscapes. The successor takes that bar, mounts it twice as high, then vaults over it effortlessly – all at 60 frames per second (FPS) and flawless quality on the PS5 Pro.
The whole thing somewhat reminds me of Nanite technology from Unreal Engine 5. However, Death Stranding 2 runs in an obviously upgraded version of the Decima Engine from Sony studio Guerilla Games (Horizon).
The lighting is also impressive and contributes significantly to the atmosphere of the game. Although the game doesn’t use ray tracing, it still creates realistic-looking locations in outdoor and indoor areas.
In some situations – such as this spectacular firework display during a boss fight – I’m bombarded with so many particle and lighting effects that I almost get dizzy. I imagine my PS4 probably exploding given this situation.
Source: Sony
Huge progress has also been made with the weather effects. The dangerous Timefall rain pours on Sam near violently, leaving amazingly realistic drops on the camera lens. And the best thing about it: the stunning weather visuals also have an impact on gameplay. If it rains a lot, small streams turn into raging rivers I’ll find difficult to cross.
It’s not just the environments and effects that make Death Stranding 2 feel so next-gen. The character models and animations have also made a huge leap forward. Sam looks more like Norman Reedus than ever before. The small pores and wrinkles on his face. The expressive eyes. The detailed hair. Absolute cinema, especially in the real-time cutscenes.
The next two screenshots compare Norman Reedus in Death Stranding: Director’s Cut and in Death Stranding 2:
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
GTA 6 and Witcher 4 promise even more
With Death Stranding 2, Sony’s next-gen has finally really kicked off after five years. The next visual highlight will likely be Rockstar blockbuster GTA 6. The trailers released so far promise a level of detail never before seen in an open-world game.
The number of NPCs, vehicles and animals that can be seen on-screen at the same time is particularly impressive. Just like the realistic physics system: beer sloshes back and forth in bottles and foams. Hair blows in the wind and looks deceptively real. Big bellies, butts and breasts react to characters’ movements, making them look like real human beings with fat and muscles rather than stiff dolls. Unbelievable.
In contrast to Death Stranding 2, GTA 6 will also make extensive use of ray tracing – both for reflections and lighting. Given the visual quality, I can get over the fact that the game will probably only run at 30 FPS.
CD Projekt Red also wants to set new standards with The Witcher 4. The game’s being developed in close cooperation with Epic Games and their Unreal Engine 5. A recently presented tech demo certainly whets the appetite for more.
Nature and incredibly dense vegetation, cities with an amazing number of detailed NPCs and atmospheric real-time lighting thanks to extensive use of Lumen (ray tracing). And all this at 60 FPS on a PS5. Not PS5 Pro. On the regular PS5.
However, it’ll be some time before we can ride around the magical Unreal world with Ciri. It’s likely the game will be a cross-gen title that’ll also appear on the PS6 and the next Xbox.
Ironic, isn’t it? Just when I get the feeling that the current console generation is finally getting into its stride, the next one is just around the corner.
Let’s just hope that in addition to Death Stranding 2, GTA 6 and The Witcher 4, I’ll experience a few more «Wow, that wouldn’t have been possible on the PS4» moments with the PS5.
Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
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