Death Stranding 2’s PC edition did not show any Denuvo or other DRM on its store listing, and there has been no announcement from Kojima Productions indicating the game would use that type of protection. That means, at launch, players should not have to deal with Denuvo-related performance or background-process concerns. The absence of any DRM flag on the Steam page and the lack of public messaging from the developer are the main indications used to reach that conclusion.
PC players have been sensitive to DRM choices because certain protections can run in the background and, historically, some have been blamed for performance hits. The original Death Stranding arrived on PC with Denuvo enabled, but the publisher later removed it. That prior history made the DRM status for the sequel a common question among PC owners. If you want the technical side of the PC release, including system requirements and the scheduled March 19, 2026, launch, see our piece on PC system requirements for Death Stranding 2.
Store listings and developer statements are the clearest ways to confirm DRM at launch. If the situation changes, this story will be updated to reflect any official announcements. Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us whether DRM affects your purchase decisions, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Developed by Kojima Productions
Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam — with companions by his side — sets out on a new journey to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they traverse a world beset by otherworldly enemies, obstacles and a haunting question: should we have connected?
- Genre: Shooter, Adventure
- Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Modes: Single player
- Release: 2025-06-26
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment, Kojima Productions
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Age Rating:
ACB MA 15+ / ESRB M / USK 16 / PEGI 18 / CERO D / GRAC 19+ / CLASS_IND 18
- IGDB Rating: 96.2/100
