What is a “next generation” video game? There’s probably never been a definitive answer to this question, but contenders for moments that have pushed the medium forward in a significant way have historically been easy to identify. The jump from pixels to polygons. Solitary experiences versus massively multiplayer games. Open-world games with complex simulations. Split-second loading. Now, in 2025, some are positing Hideo Kojima’s new delivery simulator Death Stranding 2: On The Beach as the first “real” PS5 game. This assertion might sound like the type of drivel best relegated to fanboys who use phrases like “console wars” with sincerity, but it’s also an astounding claim to make a whole five years into our current generation of hardware. Hype aside, the certitude surrounding Death Stranding 2’s legacy reflects an industry of increasingly diminishing returns.

So, how are people defining a real PS5 game? It’s difficult to discern in some conversations, but much of the criteria is the evident technical prowess. Rather than specific innovations, we’re talking frames, loading times, and above all, visual fidelity. Posts showcasing the lush landscapes and evolution of Norman Reedus in Death Stranding 2 are racking up millions of views on social media. Guerrilla Game’s Decima engine is at the heart of most of the conversations propping up Death Stranding 2, if not the PS5 as a whole, when you account that it powers first-party games like Horizon Zero Dawn.

If Death Stranding 2 feels different from older games that use the same technology, it might be because........

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